Pashinyan approves composition of council dealing with constitutional reforms

YEREVAN, Jan. 27. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan approved today the composition of a council that will be engaged in development of constitutional reforms.

According to the government website, the Council that includes representatives of legislative, judicial bodies as well as non-governmental organizations will be headed by Justice Minister Karen Andreasyan.

On December 17, 2021, Pashinyan signed a decree to abolish the Constitutional Reforms Commission (established in February 2020) and replace it with the Constitutional Reforms Council. The Council will have to set up a 5-member commission on constitutional reforms.

Pashinyan said on January 24, 2022 that the authorities will have to audit the current Constitution and see if there were opportunities to improve it. He didn't rule out that amendments will be introduced to the legislation as a result.

Nikol Pashinyan announced large-scale constitutional reforms during his supporters' rally in spring 2021. According to him, Armenia may again switch back to semi-presidential form of governance.

Armenia switched to the parliamentary form of government following a string of fundamental constitutional changes enacted through a 2015 referendum.

According to the new Constitution, the president's powers are substantially curtailed. He is elected for a term of seven years by the parliament. One and the same person can be elected president only once. The real power is vested in the parliamentary majority and the government it forms. -0-