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Implementing constitutional reforms at any price is not the top priority of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), not a priority issue on the agenda of RPA, the vice speaker of Armenian parliament, RPA’s spokesman Edward Sharmazanov said after the sitting of RPA Council held last evening. The sitting participants discussed the new draft Constitution of Armenia (the main Chapters 1-7) published on July 15 by the Expert Commission on Constitutional Reforms.

Sharmazanov said that during the sitting, special emphasis was put on the discussion of the new Constitution’s chapters concerning the model of government and the judicial system. Sharmazanov stressed that the draft, however, is not a ‘dogma’ so approval of the new Constitution is in Armenian citizens’ power, and public debates will be held in the next 1.5 months, with the Commission also continuing its work.  

“There is a problem of an efficient system of government, and we have an impression that this option will provide an opportunity to shift to a more stable and democratic model,” E. Sharmazanov said adding that many just express hasty opinions of the new draft Constitution.

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.