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The Specialized Commission on Constitutional Reforms adjunct to Armenian President held discussions with the Venice Commission, during which the changed texts of several articles of the draft amendments to the Constitution of Armenia were presented to the Venice Commission. However, these changes have not yet been included in the draft constitutional amendments that the Armenian president sent to the parliament, Vardan Poghosyan – the Armenian president’s official representative in the parliament on constitutional reform issues – said during the National Assembly’s autumn session that began today.

V. Poghosyan made a statement in response to the question of the head of ‘Prosperous Armenia’ opposition faction Naira Zohrabyan who asked what final form the draft amendments’ controversial clause about forming a stable majority in parliament and a second round of elections will eventually have.

“When these debates finish, I will present in my final speech all the clauses that the Armenian president considers acceptable. I should say beforehand that these clauses reflect all the proposals, which were submitted to the Venice Commission from August 24 to September 1,” Vardan Poghosyan said.

As regards Article 89 of the draft amendments to the Constitution, Vardan Poghosyan said that Venice Commission made no changes in parts 1 and 2 of Article 89, but part 3 has been added.

The new contents of Article 89 are as follows:
1. The National Assembly shall consist of at least 101 MPs.
2. In the National Assembly, seats are given to representatives of ethnic minorities in order established by the Electoral Code.
3. The parliament is elected under the proportional representation system. The Electoral Code guarantees the formation of a stable parliamentary majority, and if no stable political majority is formed through elections or the creation of a political coalition, then a second round of elections may be held. The restrictions, terms and order of forming a political coalition are established by the Electoral Code.

“In the previous version of Article 89, holding a second round of election was a mandatory requirement” said the Armenian president’s official representative on constitutional reform issues in the parliament.