DISCUSSING THE CONSTITUTION

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| 20:46:47 | 29-08-2005 | Politics |

Today the National Assembly discussed the Draft Constitution in a
special session. During the discussion one of the most disputable
issues was the immunity of the President. According to the draft,
“The President of Armenia cannot be persecuted either in the period
of governing or after it for actions proceeding from his status”. But
the President of Armenia can be impeached because of high treason or
another grave crime.

Aram Sargsyan, deputy of the Justice bloc mentioned that all the
actions of the President are represented as “proceeding from his
status”, that is many decisions not favorable for the nation can be
made for which no one can call the President to responsibility.

Manouk Gasparyan announced that if his two demands are accepted, he
will act as defender of the draft Constitution. One of the demands
was about the article of the President’s immunity, and the other was
about the indirect election of the Yerevan mayor.

“If the Yerevan mayor must be elected by the Yerevan alderman, it is
better for the President to appoint him”, said Manouk Gasparyan.

Tigran Torosyan mentioned that the coalition does not want the Yerevan
mayor to be appointed.

All the issues which were not cleared up by the Constitution were
explained by Tigran Torosyan that “Not everything must be regulated
with documents; there is the concept of political culture, within
the framework of which these issues must be solved”.