6 int’l organizations to monitor constitutional referendum in ArmeniaNovember 30, 2015 - 12:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - 6 international organizations will be monitoring the December 6 referendum on constitutional amendments in Armenia:
The most drastic constitutional change to be voted on December 6 change concerns the part of the Constitution that deals with the form of government. If approved, the amended version of the Constitution would increase the role of the National Assembly and essentially curtail the powers of the president. The prime minister would become the head of the executive and the government would be formed by the “stable” parliamentary majority formed as a result of legislative elections. The president would no longer be elected by popular vote and would serve only for one seven-year term (under the current system, the presidential term is five years). Most powers, however, would be concentrated in the hands of the prime minister and the majority party in the National Assembly. The opposition would be given wider supervisory powers and so-called “organic” laws that concern institutions would have to be passed by three-fifth of the number of lawmakers (compared to an absolute majority vote required under the current system). Other major changes also concern the formation of the judiciary that the authors and supporters of the constitutional changes insist would result in true independence of the judges at all levels. Top stories The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Yerevan City Council has elected Tigran Avniyan from the ruling Civil Contract as the mayor of the Armenian capital. The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday, October 3 voted to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |