Armenian MP raps coalition over draft constitutional reform

Noyan Tapan news agency
13 May 05

YEREVAN

“The draft of constitutional reforms proposed by the ruling coalition
reflects the interests of the incumbent president,” the chairman of
the National Democratic Bloc, MP Arshak Sadoyan, told a news
conference today.

He said the draft retains all presidential powers and is only intended
to “pull the wool over Europe’s eyes”.

Sadoyan said it was obvious that the coalition, dictated by the
president, would continue pursuing the same strategy and that the
draft being put on the referendum would not contain any serious
changes. Namely, the president will unilaterally determine the
structure of the government and main directions of the state’s foreign
and domestic policy.

The president will effectively be able to appoint and dismiss the
prime minister, the prosecutor-general and other senior officials. The
president will also retain all control pillars to influence the work
of the justice council, etc.

Arshak Sadoyan believes that such an “evil reform” of the constitution
will turn Armenia into a state with backward “Asian” dictatorship. He
said his party would try to introduce its own draft of reforms.

“We are calling on all political forces, public organizations and
private individuals to join their efforts and say a collective ‘no’ to
these treacherous constitutional reforms,” he said.