DRAFT AMENDMENTS AND ADDENDA TO LAW ON REFERENDUM ADOPTED IN FIRST READING
Noyan Tapan
Dec 3, 2008
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 3, the Armenian
parliament in the first reading with 88 votes "for," 7 "against"
and 2 "abstained" adopted a bill envisaging amendments and addenda
to the law On Referendum. According to the decision publicized the
day before, members of the only opposition faction, Zharangutiun
(Heritage), as well as independent deputy, former NA Speaker Tigran
Torosian criticizing the draft were against the bill.
According to the bill authored by the government, the right of
initiative to hold a referendum to reveal the public opinion on the
most important issues of state life is reserved for the government. The
necessity of holding a referendum to reveal the public opinion on
state’s foreign policy, military and national security issues and the
issues to be put on referendum should be coordinated with the President
in advance. The results of the referendum on the above mentioned issues
are considered positive if more than the half of the participants
vote for. And the draft put on referendum on adopting Constitution
or making amendments to it, adopting laws will be considered adopted
if more than the half of the voting participants, but no less than
a quarter instead of the current one third of citizens included in
the electoral lists vote for.
According to another amendment, in addition to the current limitations,
it is stipulated that no referendum can be held in the country,
either, in case President’s post remains vacant, until a newly elected
President assumes his post.