Republican Party of Armenia

 On October 5 the RA National Assembly began the work of the next four-day sittings.

At the beginning of the sitting the NA President Galust Sahakyan congratulated all the teachers on the occasion of Teacher’s Day. The NA President congratulated all the teachers of Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora, who enjoyed the joy of being a teacher, wishing them health, optimism and welfare.

Afterwards the deputies welcomed the teachers and pupils of the Senior School N 2 of Karmirgyugh community of Gegharkunik Marz, who visited the parliament within the framework of the NA Open Doors programme.

The NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan submitted the draft laws of the agendas of the session, then also the four-day sittings, as well as the decisions on postponing the debate of a number of draft laws.

After approving the draft laws of the agendas of the session and the four-day sittings the deputies continued debating the draft law of the RA Constitutional Amendments.

Meanwhile the NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov presented the address of Gianni Buquicchio, President of the Venice Commission to the National Assembly and the public.

Touching upon the constitutional reforms, Gianni Buquicchio has noted that Armenia and the Venice Commission have a long history together.

According to Buquicchio, the functioning of each form of government is strictly linked to the electoral system. In parallel to the shift to a parliamentary regime, a shift towards an exclusively proportional system, corrected through a possible majority bonus, has been proposed in order to guarantee stability, hence governability.

Talking about the constitutional reforms, the President of the Venice Commission has noted that the draft amendments also contain a very modern catalogue of human rights, in line with European and international standards.

The draft amendments strengthen the independence of the judiciary; strengthen the legitimacy of the Constitutional Court; provide for guarantees of independence of important state bodies: the Central Electoral Commission, the Television and Radio Commission and the Control Chamber.

Gianni Buquicchio has stated that the text of the Constitutional Amendments relies on the past and more recent opinions by the Venice Commission.

To Gianni Buquicchio’s observation, irrespective of the reasons that have prompted it, when it meets European and international standards, a constitutional reform may be a great opportunity.

According to the Committee President, with time and with democratic practice, new constitutional rules may be driving forces for a society to develop and for a country in transition to achieve a higher level of democracy.

Afterwards, Vardan Poghosyan, the member of the Specialized Commission for Constitutional Amendments adjunct to the RA President presented the RA Draft Constitutional Amendments debated in the RA National Assembly and amended on the basis of the recommendations admissible for the RA President. Vardan Poghosyan noted that the draft was amended on the basis of the recommendations presented by the deputies and factions, which was accepted by the President of the Republic. The NA all factions submitted recommendations, as well as the independent deputy Edmon Marukyan.

The member of the Specialized Commission for Constitutional Amendments touched upon the main amendments. In the chapter of Bases of the Constitutional Order it has been stipulated that the bowels and the water resources are considered exclusive properties.

Referring to the freedom of actions, Vardan Poghosyan has noted that, according to the amendment, man is free to do everything which does not contradict the Constitution and the laws. And nobody can bear obligations which are not defined by law.

In the Article on the freedom of assemblies it has been stipulated that the assemblies organized in an open air territories in cases designed by law are held within reasonable term and awareness is not demanded for holding spontaneous assemblies.

The key speaker also touched upon the amendments in the articles on the right to property, defining crimes and appointing punishments in the spheres of the principle of legality, economic, social, cultural spheres, legislative guarantees and the policy of the state.

Vardan Poghosyan especially detailed the articles concerning the change of the system of government designed by the Constitution.

Talking about the elections of the National Assembly, Vardan Poghsoyan has stated that the National Assembly is elected by proportional electoral system. The Electoral Code guarantees the formation of the stable parliamentary majority. If by the result of the election or through the formation of the political coalition stable parliamentary majority is not formed then second phase of the election shall be held.

The amendment on the legislative initiatives is also important: that is the author can at any moment call back the draft law submitted by him, as well as the draft laws, which the exclusive right of the legislative initiative belongs to the government, voting can be only by the decisions acceptable by the government.

Touching upon the order of the election of the Republic of Armenia Vardan Poghosyan has noticed that here there has been consensual approach: the President of the Republic is elected by the National Assembly. Vardan Poghosyan also referred to the amendments concerning the RA Government, courts, the Prosecutor’s Office, investigative bodies, the local self-government, Central Electoral Commission and the Central Bank. In particular, it has been noted the Council of Central Bank will be elected by the National Assembly. Any change connected with the dram should be carried out through referendum.

Vardan Poghosyan has stated that the main amendments have shown that the President of the Republic has a wish to reach big civil consent if possible, make concessions in order the proposals of the political forces and the public, which are worth for protection, will be included in the Draft Constitution Amendments.

The parliament with 104 for, 10 against and 3 abstained passed the NA decision “On Giving Consent to Putting on Referendum the RA Draft Constitution Amendments.”

The RA Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank Nerses Yeritsyan submitted for debate in the first reading the legislative package “On Amending the RA Civil Code” and “On Amending the RA Law on Compulsory Enforcement Service of Judicial Acts.”

The Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gagik Minasyan highlighted the adoption of the legislative amendment.

The First Mayor of Yerevan Kamo Areyan presented the Loan Agreement Municipal Lighting Project of Yerevan signed between the RA and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on May 11, 2015.

The NA deputy Khosrov Harutyunyan submitted the endorsement of the Committee.

The NA deputy Shirak Torosyan voiced the endorsement of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.

The package of bills authored by the NA deputies Ara Babloyan and Mkrtich Minasyan “On Amending the RA Law on the Medical Aid and Service of the Population,” “On Amending the RA Code on Administrative Infringements” and “On Amending the RA Law on State Duty” was debated in the second reading procedure.

The member of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care, Maternity and Childhood Mkrtich Minasyan presented the endorsement of the Committee.

The RA Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank Nerses Yeritsyan presented the report of the implementation of the Monetary Credit Policy Programme of the RA CB for 2014.

The RA First Deputy Minister of Finance Pavel Safaryan and the Chairman of the NA Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gagik Minasyan delivered speeches on the abovementioned programme.

The NA deputies Hrant Bagratyan, Mikayel Melkumyan and Artashes Geghamyan delivered speeches on the document.

Let us note that after debating the abovementioned document the deputies will take it as knowledge.

The National Assembly will continue its work on October 5.