Constitutional reform referendum to cost AMD 1.8 billion to Armenian government
The Armenian government decided Thursday to allocate around AMD 1.787 billion for preparations and conduction of a Constitutional reform referendum, which is scheduled for December 6.
The reform project that was upheld by the Armenian National Assembly on October 5 implies transition from presidential to parliamentary rule.
Gagik Khachatryan, the finance minister, speaking today at a regular Cabinet session, said the money will be taken from the government's reserve fund – AMD 1.576 billion for the Central Electoral Commission and AMD 210 million for the police.
The Cabinet also accepted lawmakers' proposal to amend the electoral code to permit the country's citizens to use ID cards instead of passports.
The amendment implies that ID cards are treated as passports, but unlike passports, they will be not sealed as evidence of voting.
According to the proposed changes, the president of Armenia, whose powers will be significantly curtailed, is elected for a term of seven years (instead of the current five) by the parliament, not in a national vote. One and the same person can be elected president only once.
To be elected in the first round the candidate must be backed by ¾ of the votes, and if this can not be done, the candidate must be elected by 3/5 of the votes. If the candidate fails to garner even this number of votes, he/she will be elected by a majority of all deputies.
According to the document, the president is head of state, embodying national unity and ensuring the observance of the Constitution. He/she cannot be a member of a political party.
The supreme executive authority is the government that develops and implements the internal and external policies. The government is also vested with power to implement the overall public administration.
Under the proposed changes the president is to appoint a candidate of prime minister of the party or party bloc that wins parliamentary elections. If parliamentary forces are unable to agree on the candidacy of the head of government, the parliament (National Assembly) is to be dissolved.
A vote of no-confidence in the prime minister can be passed no sooner than a year after his/her appointment.
According to the published document, the armed forces are subordinated to the government, and the prime minister is the supreme commander of the armed forces in times of war.
The proposed changes stipulate that parliament members are elected for five years by a proportional system.
The unicameral parliament is to consist of at least 101 members (instead of the current 131). This means that 41 single-seat constituencies must be abolished. The new parliament must have representatives of national minorities. --0----