Lragir, Armenia
Dec 27 2007

BROADMINDED PARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA

In case the leader of the NDU Vazgen Manukyan is elected president,
he has his own approaches toward cooperation with the Republican
majority. These approaches do not include disbanding the parliament.
`If a candidate says his first step after election will be disbanding
the National Assembly, no matter how bad the parliament is, the first
move of the president elect is unconstitutional. If one takes
unconstitutional steps, even out of good intentions, that country is
doomed,’ Vazgen Manukyan says.

He says it is necessary to be able to work with the majority.
`However, majority is a variable notion. Persons are the same, their
stances change very fast. I have once said in joke that this is not
France where one remains a socialist if they are a socialist or a
rightist remains there. We move broadmindedly from one place to
another. And if a president is elected in an election, it is such a
strong power that changes in the majority are inevitable. It will
help shape another government working with them in accordance with
the Constitution, which will be more effective, more simple, more
transparent for people. From time to time, the president whom people
elected may address people directly, through television, put pressure
on the government or the National Assembly,’ Vazgen Manukyan says.

He also thinks that the new parliamentary election should take place
after the adoption of the Constitution because the Constitutions of
1995 and 2005 are not exactly what Armenia needs. Consequently,
besides the economic and manpower policy the new president should
first of all present a new Constitution to the society in two or
three years, and at the time of adoption of the new Constitution
there will be a point in transitional provisions that new elections
will be held to the president, the parliament and the local
governments. `It seems the most civilized way to me,’ Vazgen Manukyan
says.