Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan told a meeting at the Justice Ministry today that Armenia needs a new constitution rather than a constitutional reform.
"First, I believe that no matter how we try to solve this problem in other ways, the country should have a Constitution adopted by the people by a vote that will not cause doubts. This is an important emphasis related to legitimacy. Second, we must have a Constitution that will make Armenia more competitive and viable in the new geopolitical conditions," he said.
He emphasized that his publicly expressed position has not undergone any changes and he is convinced that the parliamentary form of governance is the most appropriate for Armenia.
The Constitution of independent Armenia was adopted on July 5, 1995 and was amended twice - on November 27, 2005 and on December 6, 2015, when based on the outcome of a referendum Armenia shifted from semi-presidnetila to the parliamentary form of government with reduced powers of the head of state.
Thus, the real power was transferred to the parliamentary majority and the government formed by it.
In December 2021, Pashinyan disbanded the Commission for Constitutional Reforms, formed in February 2020, and created the Council for Constitutional Reforms, which in November 2022 voted by a majority to maintain and improve the parliamentary form of government.
The discussions of a new constitution concept, submitted to the government by the Ministry of Justice are expected to kick off later this month nad then it will be available for for public discussions.
