Switchover to parliamentary government: opinions

13:47 – 08.09.13

The human rights activist Artak Zeinalyan believes that, under the
pretext of constitutional reforms, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
is seeking an artificial switchover to parliamentary government
thereby extending his own tenure of office.

On the other hand, Zeinalyan says that there is neither time for nor
sense in forming a constitutional reforms committee.

`Our country is facing a number of serious challenges. But there is
neither time for nor sense in launching such processes. But they are
doing what they want. All these processes have no sense or essence,’
Zeinalyan said.

Artsvik Minasyan, an Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnakstutyun
(ARF-D) parliamentary group member, has a different opinion. According
to him, parliamentary government meets the Armenian people’s interests
regardless of who is the president.
With respect to Parliament Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov’s statement
that a change of the government system is not on the agenda, Minasyan
said that `it is too bad if so.’

`I really want this issue to be put on the agenda because it is rather
important regardless of who Armenia’s president is now and what his
values are. Parliamentary government is the only right way that will
first of all neutralize political monopoly and, secondly, allow the
country to be reformed through sustainable development. Thirdly, a
transition from autocratic decisions to general positions,’ Minasyan
told Tert.am. According to him, the issue of what kind of system
parliamentary government is a different one.

`Parliamentary government has different forms. The presidency may be
preserved, with the president elected by Parliament rather than by
means of national elections. There is no country with parliamentary
government but without human rights as a priority. You cannot cite a
single example,’ he said.

As regards the opinions that this is a way for Armenia’s incumbent
president to extend his tenure of office, Minasyan said: `I would not
like to attribute it to the incumbent president. Moreover, President
Serzh Sargsyan himself is against switching over to such a system.’

The ARF-D commends the Armenian authorities’ desire to implement
constitutional reforms depending on the kind of the reforms.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress