Your trusted source

46% of Armenian citizens consider constitutional reforms in the country to be necessary, Aram Navasardyan, Director of Gallup International Association Office in Armenia, told a press conference today.

The poll was conducted among 1,105 respondents in May. 26% of respondents said they do not consider constitutional reforms necessary, and the rest replied they did not make a decision yet.

As reported, the Expert Commission on Constitutional Reforms under the Armenian President published on July 15 the draft of the new Constitution of Armenia.

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 10 years. Besides, under the new draft, a president may serve only one term. The new draft, unlike the Constitution currently in force, 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 of the country becomes the supreme commander-in-chief of the Armenian armed forces in times of military operations. PM is appointed by the president within three 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 elections to National Assembly. No more than 13 ministries can be set up, and there is a post of deputy prime minister.

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.