The theme of “Aravot” online “Face to Face” on air is discussed between NA MPs Vahram Mkrtchyan (RPA) and Vahan Babayan (PAP).
Aram Abrahamyan – What does the government initiate constitutional amendments now? What problems will it solve? Also, I must say, Mr. Mkrtchyan, that non-governmental forces suspect you that you want to exercise these amendments to reproduce the government.
Vahram Mkrtchyan – The President of Armenia had initiated the establishment of an expert committee. The committee had conducted research and the draft of the concept paper will be released in March. The drat is purely professional, in other words, this is not a political document in the sense that there is no attitude by a political team or a political party on this issue. On reading the concept paper, I would like to separate fundamental blocks. The 1995 Constitution, which implied a clearly presidential governance system, did not resolve several key issues, for instances, the human rights and freedoms were not declared as priority values.
A. A. – Human rights are enshrined, for example, in 1936 Stalin’s constitution. Let’s talk about change in the form of governance.
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V. M. – I personally, as an MP and as a citizen, am for the parliamentary system. The countries that do not have democratic developed institutions, and in 1995, we did not have it, they quickly turn into an authoritarian regime, in the face of a tough presidential system. There are no adequate institutions, and mechanisms of counterbalances and restraints. Indeed, we can declare human rights and freedoms as priority values, but we may not have sufficient legislative framework to protect them.
A. A. – Why do you think that with these amendments the government seeks to be reproduced?
Vahan Babayan – I do not want to speak here about political theories or the government splitting theory, or moreover, the mechanisms of counterbalances and restraints. No one cares about clauses written on the paper, let’s look at the life in reality, and the real life is the following: it was mentioned that the task of an authoritarian regime is laid in the presidential system, and if it does not shift to a parliamentary one, then it becomes to be an authoritarian. The representative of the ruling majority says that it needs to be changed to avoid it being an authoritarian. Constitutional amendments are not associated with human rights, broad powers and the reforms in the governance system of the country. Constitutional reforms resolve the issues of reproduction of the regime, perpetuation of government, survival and longevity of all government tools and all the groups. If we today go out in the street and ask each citizen whether he would like to live in the presidential system or the parliamentary system, the citizen would respond, I do not care about your words, nor what you discuss. We are interested to have a job, and have the opportunity and conditions to live and create in our country rather than quit everything and leave the country, we are interested in having equal competitive conditions in the economic field and fair elections, and we want to elect our leaders with our own hands. Who believes in our country that with your suggested change of the package the elections will not be rigged? Who believes that the economy will develop? And who believes that these changes would record some serious progress? This is just funny.
The discussion in full
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show series are released by the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this broadcast express the opinions of the participants, and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, or its Board. This broadcast is made available thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
