Epress.am News from Armenia
About 200 people protesting the introduction of mandatory cumulative pension contributions today gathered outside the National Assembly to demand the annulment of the bill.
Demonstrators were holding signs that read "No to the compulsory", "Withdraw the compulsory from the law", "Salaries shouldn't be reduced", and "Don't encourage taxpayers to emigrate". Note, among the demonstrators were a large number of people working in IT.
Later, upon learning that the ruling coalition — the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and Rule of Law (OEK) — prevented quorum and thus the meeting did not take place, demonstrators decided to march to the Armenian government building then to the HHK office.
Head of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) parliamentary faction Levon Zurabyan said that, by law, quorum can still be met by 3 pm, though he believes it's highly unlikely.
Zubaryan said that, according to Armenia's Constitution, if the signatures of 44 Members of Parliament are received, a special meeting must be called, but the HHK shows for the second time that "it spits on the Constitution".
The opposition MP thanked those gathered, emphasizing that due to their actions they forced four parliamentary factions to unite around the issue.
As of this writing, demonstrators were outside the HHK office. They submitted a letter to the ruling party, demanding they appear in parliament by 3 pm and attend the special meeting. The ruling party, however, did not heed the call.
