V. Poghosyan: There are no serious counterarguments anymore to new draft Constitution’s clause about army command
The new draft Constitution of Armenia (the main chapters 1-7), including the clause about assumption by the government of command of the armed forces in a period of military operations, was discussed at the sitting of the Council of ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) last evening. The new draft was published on July 15 by the Expert Commission on Constitutional Reforms.
Member of the Commission on Constitutional Reforms Vardan Poghosyan said at a press conference today that “there are no serious counterarguments anymore regarding this issue”.
To remind, by the new draft Constitution, a president is elected into office for a term of 7 years instead of the current term of 5 years. The president shall be a permanent resident of the Republic of Armenia for the previous 7 years – instead of the current period of 10 years. Besides, under the new draft, a president may serve only one term. Unlike the Constitution currently in force, the new draft bans the president from being member of a political party.
Article 125 of the new draft Constitution establishes the procedure of a presidential election. The president shall be elected by an assembly consisting of an equal number of Armenian parliament deputies and local government bodies’ representatives nominated by municipalities themselves.
The prime minister shall become the supreme commander-in-chief of the Armenian armed forces during a period of military operations. He is appointed by the president within 3 days from the start of activities of the newly-elected parliament. In particular, the president confirms the candidate nominated by the political force that won the election to the National Assembly. No more than 18 ministries can be formed, and there is a position of deputy PM.
As was reported, public debates of the new draft Constitution will be held until late July. The draft may be amended if any acceptable proposals are submitted. Then the document will presented to the Armenian president and, if approved, to Armenia’s National Assembly.
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