Your trusted source

All the political forces and factions have participated in substantive debates of the constitutional reform in Armenia, a vice speaker of the parliament, spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Edward Sharmazanov said at the sitting of RPA’s Executive Body on September 18.

In his words, the debates of the draft constitutional amendments in the National Assembly showed that most of the parliamentary forces have a positive attitude to the proposed amendments. “Political consolidation is an accomplished fact,” Sharmazanov said.

Summarizing th opinions of the parliamentary forces about the draft amendments to the Constitution, E. Sharmazanov said: “RPA, Prosperous Armenia Party, and ARF-Dashnaktsutyun said they support the constitutional reform. Three, even four members of Heritage faction expressed a positive opinion of the document. Two representatives of Armenian National Congress met with the president and presented their proposals. Orinats Yerkir Party is holding discussions. We did not seek everyone’s approval. Our purpose was to organize healthy debates. And we witnessed unprecedented discussions”.

As was reported, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan submitted on August 21 the draft amendments in the Constitution of Armenia to the National Assembly. The draft amendments had been developed by the Specialized Commission on Constitutional Reforms adjunct to Armenian President. Vardan Poghosyan, a member of the Commission, has been appointed as official representative of Armenian President for presentation of the draft amendments in the National Assembly of Armenia. On September 11 the draft amendments to the Constitution were put on the agenda of the plenary sitting of the parliament’s autumn after the parliamentary standing committee on state and legal affairs gave a positive opinion on the draft. Serzh Sargsyan has already held consultations on the approaches stated in the draft new Constitution with representatives of various political parties.