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During an extraordinary session today, Armenia’s National Assembly passed draft amendments and additions to the Law on Excise Tax – with 56 votes in favor, 38 against, and one abstention.

By the bill, it is planned to revise excise rates on such goods as vodka, cigarettes, diesel fuel, gasoline and condensed gas. In particular, it is proposed raising excise rates on vodka and cigarettes by 10%.

Prior to the vote, deputy of ‘Prosperous Armenia’ faction Mikael Melkumyan said they would not endorse the bill submitted by the government. “We believe that in this situation it is inappropriate to cause new shocks in the consumer market,” the opposition MP said.

Another deputy, leader of Alliance Party Tigran Urikhanyan for his part urged MPs to vote against. The head of Orinats Yerkir opposition faction Heghine Bisharyan made a similar appeal. The bill is unacceptable to them, she said.
“It is noted in the bill that it will take effect in 2016 so we suggest that it should not be adopted in the first reading, but be amended and voted on,” she said.

Parliamentary speaker Galust Sahakyan agreed that the bill needs to be amended. For this reason the ruling Republican Party of Armenia proposes passing the draft amendments in the first reading and later finalizing them during discussions in the autumn, he said.