Armenia develops draft constitutional reforms

Armenian Ministry of Justice has said that the country has already developed a draft concept of constitutional reforms.

The ministry did not explain which articles of the country's main law are to be revised, but noted that the draft concept has provisions concerning the form of government, the scope of powers of the president, elimination of interconnection between the 2nd and 3rd chapters, fixation of social, economic and cultural rights in the chapter regarding fundamental human rights, Caliber.Az reports citing Armenian media.

The draft also provides for the creation of public bodies and, in particular, autonomous structures; it also introduces a residency and citizenship requirement for a number of positions. There is also a provision for the transfer of state powers to private entities.

The ministry said that the commission on constitutional reforms is headed by lawyer David Hakobyan. The full composition of the commission, however, is not publicized.

The need for a new Constitution was announced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at one of the government sittings on January 19. According to him, the country needs a new basic law that will make it "more competitive and viable in the new conditions".