New Ethics Commission to Reduce Risk of Businessmen in Parliament: Prime Minister

Entrepreneurs won’t be entering parliament on the Republican Party of Armenia’s (HHK) proportional party list and the party maintains this principle with its adopted decisions, said Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in parliament on Wednesday, responding to a reporter’s question as to whether there’s a contradiction between HHK’s statements and actions whereby the party says there won’t be businessmen in parliament but backs several businessman nominated to run in the parliamentary election according to the majoritarian system (where lawmakers are elected in single-mandate constituencies).

“Parliamentarians, members of government, and high-ranking officials shouldn’t use their position for their private businesses. How we can achieve this: we are establishing an ethics commission which will keep under its control this constitutional norm. This means that ministers and deputies will [be required to] present to the ethics commission declarations of their property and assets prior to assuming a position,” he said.

The prime minister mentioned that the commission will note what property the businessman has at the time of assuming his position and whether his income increases or decreases during the years he holds this position and how much of this is due to his official position.

According to Tigran Sargsyan, 500 high-ranking officials have to be under public scrutiny so that they don’t abuse their position toward increasing their personal income.

“And with this, we will be putting on a legislative straitjacket so that people don’t succumb to this temptation. Step by step we’re going on this path. Understandably, this issue won’t be resolved at once. Furthermore, officials will present to the ethics commission not only their own property, but also the property of individuals connected to them so that this risk is ruled out,” he said.