Justice Minister Minasyan: Armenia to Retain parliamentary System of Government

YEREVAN — Armenia will retain the parliamentary system of government, Justice Minister Grigor Minasyan told reporters after a government meeting on Thursday.

Armenia switched to the parliamentary form of government following a string of fundamental constitutional changes enacted through a 2015 referendum, which came into force in 2018.

According to the new constitution, the president’s powers are substantially curtailed. He is elected for a term of seven years by the parliament. One and the same person can be elected president only once. The  real power is in the hands of the parliamentary majority and the government it forms.

“Constitutional changes are moving forward at a fairly normal pace. Extensive public discussions have taken place. At the moment, certain conceptual points have already been defined – they concern the supremacy of the presidency, the preservation of the current form of governance,” Minasyan said.

He noted that a new commission is being formed now to deal with constitutional changes, as the previous one has fulfilled its mandate in time. Minasyan said that the results of public discussions may be presented soon.

As for the prime minister’s powers, he said consideration of relating changes is scheduled for the end of March.

On November 30, 2022, Armenia’s Constitutional Reform Council voted to preserve and improve the parliamentary form of government.