Former Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member and Armenian Education Minister Levon Mkrtchyan will visit the Armenian communities of the Eastern United States next week, when he will speak about the proposed constitutional reforms in Armenia.
Mkrtchyan will speak at the Armenian Community Center of Chicago (1701 N. Greenwood Ave. Glenview, Ill.,) on Thurs., Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m.; the Armenian Community Center of New York (69-23 47th Ave., Woodside, N.Y.) on Fri., Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m; and at the Papken Suni Agoump (Armenian American Social Club, 76 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, Mass.) on Sun., Oct. 11 at 2 p.m.
Mkrtchyan, a graduate of Yerevan State University (1986), is a historian, pedagogue, and Ph.D. of historical sciences. From 1989-94, he worked as a research assistant in the Department of Armenian History at Yerevan State University. Since 1989, he has been a professor and docent in the Department of Armenian History. From 1998-99, he served as Armenia’s minister of education and science. He has served as advisor to the prime minister of Armenia (1999-2000), and was appointed deputy minister of foreign affairs in 2000. From 2001-03, he served again as the minister of education and science.
Calling it reforms is embarrassing.
Armenian authorities came up with a unique concept (literally unprecedented in the world history of democratic governing), where the group that gets more votes without necessarily having a majority can still form a government, install prime minister and choose all ministers.
In all other constitutions anywhere in the world you need to have some kind of majority (2/3, 51% or 50% + 1 vote) or create coalition with other groups in parliament in order to be able to form a government. The new “reforms” suggest that none of that is needed anymore.
Additionally, the president of the parliament virtually gets unlimited power and absolutely no limitation on how long he or she can rule (how many terms he can serve). This is also unprecedented.
There are limits on PM’s and country’s Presidents terms, however no limit on parliament’s president’s rule. That means the head of the Republican party can rule virtually until his death and without having a majority in parliament. He will receive power to choose Prime ministers and ministers, yet no one gets to fire him, limit his terms or somehow limit his power.
I agree with Nerses and would like to add that the new Constitution does not have any mechanisms on how to dissolve the Parliament. Many civil liberties and human rights are taken away. For example the government can take personal property away from a citizen without going to court. Or one is guilty once detained rather than innocent unless proven guilty. It is obvious that this Constitution is meant to give unlimited power and sustainability to the republican party. COnstituion change when there is a political crisis . There is no such a thing in Armenia other than The President’s crisis in wanting to maintain power. I don’t unuderstand how a Revolutionary party like DAshnagtsutiun can support and endorse this.