Comments on: Constitutional Amendments http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/ A blog about Armenia: business, politics, the future and good lavash Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:09:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: Tigran http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3561 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 06:02:32 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3561 I am still in shock at the fact that the authorities simply agreed to go through with the COE recommended constitutional amendments after all the resistance they put up. I have my fingers crossed that this is a real sign and not just some political ploy and yes this is a great opportunity to raise the stability of the political arena and will truly push Armenia a long way towards democratization. I am still in shock at the fact that the authorities simply agreed to go through with the COE recommended constitutional amendments after all the resistance they put up. I have my fingers crossed that this is a real sign and not just some political ploy and yes this is a great opportunity to raise the stability of the political arena and will truly push Armenia a long way towards democratization.

]]> by: Hovakim http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3562 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 06:25:18 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3562 I think it was a simple political maneuver that was meant to highlight Armenia's cooperative stance vs. Azerbaijan's refusal to accept COE recommendations on election reform. Besides, those three items insisted upon by the CoE are not so crucial, I think. The manner of nominating and dismissing the government is always conditional on the political environment, irrespective of what the Constitution says. For example, the current Constitution does not require the government to have a parliamentary majority and represent it, yet it is what happened since 1999. If you take away the power to appoint the judges from the President and into the hands of a 9-member commission, will Armenian judges become less corrupt? Hardly. More to the point, I think our authorities sensed that those three issues were the ones that the CoE and opposition would continually insist upon, and therefore the CoE and the opposition would pay a higher price for it than it was really worth. So, the government waited until the last moment and gave up. Now, everyone is happy and delighted. The COE will say that it forced the government to adopt such measures. The opposition will be happy to take this opportunity to go back to parliament. The authorities will be content since they were not forced to change radically and amend their ways. Primitive? Yes, but it works with CoE every single time. Last time around in 2003, the authorities held out until the last moment to abolish death penalty. Consequently, no major protests were raised about the elections in the Council of Europe. I think it was a simple political maneuver that was meant to highlight Armenia’s cooperative stance vs. Azerbaijan’s refusal to accept COE recommendations on election reform.

Besides, those three items insisted upon by the CoE are not so crucial, I think. The manner of nominating and dismissing the government is always conditional on the political environment, irrespective of what the Constitution says. For example, the current Constitution does not require the government to have a parliamentary majority and represent it, yet it is what happened since 1999. If you take away the power to appoint the judges from the President and into the hands of a 9-member commission, will Armenian judges become less corrupt? Hardly.

More to the point, I think our authorities sensed that those three issues were the ones that the CoE and opposition would continually insist upon, and therefore the CoE and the opposition would pay a higher price for it than it was really worth. So, the government waited until the last moment and gave up. Now, everyone is happy and delighted. The COE will say that it forced the government to adopt such measures. The opposition will be happy to take this opportunity to go back to parliament. The authorities will be content since they were not forced to change radically and amend their ways.

Primitive? Yes, but it works with CoE every single time. Last time around in 2003, the authorities held out until the last moment to abolish death penalty. Consequently, no major protests were raised about the elections in the Council of Europe.

]]> by: Գագիկ http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3563 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:23:23 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3563 I think the tactics does not matter, why goverment gave up and when. Whats really important is that amandements get adopted without tricky modifications that will allow to eliminate or overpass them. I was surprised to read about strong opposition put by HHSH a few days ago in D.Petrosian's analysis (hope i got his name right). Unlike him I think it is last resort that Kocharian clout seeks in order to stop amendments. And probably he has possibility to manipulate them. Thus if succeeds it will look like opposition did not let the Constitution to be amended not the Goverment. I think the tactics does not matter, why goverment gave up and when. Whats really important is that amandements get adopted without tricky modifications that will allow to eliminate or overpass them.
I was surprised to read about strong opposition put by HHSH a few days ago in D.Petrosian’s analysis (hope i got his name right). Unlike him I think it is last resort that Kocharian clout seeks in order to stop amendments. And probably he has possibility to manipulate them. Thus if succeeds it will look like opposition did not let the Constitution to be amended not the Goverment.

]]> by: Onnik http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3564 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 10:38:27 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3564 The government actually was forced quite significantly to back down on the issue of these three points. They resisted all they could and have delayed and delayed. The original demand of the Council of Europe, which in itself was an extension, was to hold the referendum by June. Regardless, it is a positive sign. The government is weakening in face of internal and external pressure. Shikahogh was also an example of that. Of course, we have yet to see if the government will attempt to play any more games as November nears. The opposition made reference to these three issues even when the Council of Europe wasn't and so, it would appear that they fulfilled their purpose quite well. Their return is also probably down to CE requests that they do and for no other reason. That was also mentioned in the same CE conclusion on constitutional ammemdments. The government actually was forced quite significantly to back down on the issue of these three points. They resisted all they could and have delayed and delayed. The original demand of the Council of Europe, which in itself was an extension, was to hold the referendum by June.

Regardless, it is a positive sign. The government is weakening in face of internal and external pressure. Shikahogh was also an example of that. Of course, we have yet to see if the government will attempt to play any more games as November nears.

The opposition made reference to these three issues even when the Council of Europe wasn’t and so, it would appear that they fulfilled their purpose quite well. Their return is also probably down to CE requests that they do and for no other reason. That was also mentioned in the same CE conclusion on constitutional ammemdments.

]]> by: Katy http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3565 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:25:43 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3565 Oh LTP... are you getting interesting again? Oh LTP… are you getting interesting again?

]]> by: Nazarian http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3566 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 16:21:03 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3566 If the new constitution passes the referendum, will Mr Kocharian be able to run for a third term? If yes, then I'm with HHSh. If the new constitution passes the referendum, will Mr Kocharian be able to run for a third term? If yes, then I’m with HHSh.

]]> by: Katy http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3567 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 16:42:16 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3567 I like saying "huh-huh-shuh" I like saying “huh-huh-shuh”

]]> by: Onnik http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3568 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:03:00 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3568 <blockquote>If the new constitution passes the referendum, will Mr Kocharian be able to run for a third term?</blockquote> This would be a matter for constitutional court to determine as it means making a decision on whether an ammended constitution counts as a new one and thereore, the two term countdown gets put back to zero. Well, they could try this but I think that it would be problematic. Even if the constitutional court were to side with the president on the issue, society would not necessarily tolerate such an event and nor would the CE. Anyway, the Presidential Elections will be determined by the 2007 Parliamentary Elections so I personally think that unless they really want to destabilize the country they'd leave this idea well alone and get on with preparing the ground for whoever will succeed Kocharian. It's a possibility but I don't think Armenia has that much of a dictatorial or "Asian" mentality. Famous last words...

If the new constitution passes the referendum, will Mr Kocharian be able to run for a third term?

This would be a matter for constitutional court to determine as it means making a decision on whether an ammended constitution counts as a new one and thereore, the two term countdown gets put back to zero. Well, they could try this but I think that it would be problematic. Even if the constitutional court were to side with the president on the issue, society would not necessarily tolerate such an event and nor would the CE.

Anyway, the Presidential Elections will be determined by the 2007 Parliamentary Elections so I personally think that unless they really want to destabilize the country they’d leave this idea well alone and get on with preparing the ground for whoever will succeed Kocharian. It’s a possibility but I don’t think Armenia has that much of a dictatorial or “Asian” mentality.

Famous last words…

]]> by: Nazarian http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3569 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:34:58 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3569 Onnik, the Armenian government keeps surprising me with its capability to sink to a new dictatorial low. When you think they can't do any worse, they come up with a brand new trick. Onnik, the Armenian government keeps surprising me with its capability to sink to a new dictatorial low. When you think they can’t do any worse, they come up with a brand new trick.

]]> by: firefly http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3570 Thu, 30 Jun 2005 20:42:32 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2005/06/30/constitutional-amendments/#comment-3570 The most important amendment is that people of Yerevan will be able to elect their mayor. AOD is guilty of creting a constitution where no form of self government exists, everyone from marzpets to down the strech are appointed. What happens in Armenia is consequense of their failure to create democratic foundations in country. Democracy doesn't start from the presidency, it starts from your neighborhood. For me AOD is perpertrator and victim of its own policies. So, they better shut up. The most important amendment is that people of Yerevan will be able to elect their mayor. AOD is guilty of creting a constitution where no form of self government exists, everyone from marzpets to down the strech are appointed. What happens in Armenia is consequense of their failure to create democratic foundations in country. Democracy doesn’t start from the presidency, it starts from your neighborhood. For me AOD is perpertrator and victim of its own policies. So, they better shut up.

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