ANC rep slams parliament-adopted bill on state of emergency

 March 1, 2012 - 19:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - At Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition rally in Yerevan, Republic party leader slammed the Armenian authorities over current social and economic situation in the country.

“80% of Armenian population openly confesses to being ready to leave the country, if given a chance,” Aram Sargsyan said.

Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper editor-in-chief Nikol Pashinyan, in turn, criticized the parliament over adoption of the bill “On legal regime of the state of emergency” despite opposition protests.

The National Assembly of Armenia passed today the bill “On legal regime of the state of emergency” with 67 votes for and 1 against; opposition MPs boycotted the bill and did not vote at all.

The new draft law “On legal regime of the state of emergency” was adopted in the National Assembly of Armenia on February 9, 2012 in the first reading. Then Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan called the bill back for amendment.

The revised bill was submitted to the parliament again. Opposition believes this bill is unconstitutional since it gives the President personal authorities to declare a state of emergency (the president consults the prime minister and the speaker of the parliament but takes the decision independently), as well as envisages involvement of army to eliminate the threat that resulted in a state of emergency.

From February 20, 2008, the Armenian opposition led by first president Levon Ter-Petrossian, who ran for presidency in 2008, but was not elected, held rallies in the central part of Yerevan, protesting against the election results.

The protest actions resulted in unrest and clashes between the police and rally participants on March 1-2. According to the Office of RA Prosecutor General, around 200 people were injured, 10 people were killed, and over 100 people were arrested.