Former President Robert Kocharian Sees No Need for Constitutional Reforms

There is no need for constitutional reform in Armenia. This opinion former president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian expressed in an interview published on 2rd.am [AM].

"The initiative for reform is derived solely from the authorities: the explanations made are unconvincing and extremely vague, which have aroused serious doubts in society concerning the true purpose of the proposed changes," he said. 

In 2005, he said, the situation was different, and reforms were justified: there was a consensual awareness of the Constitution's non-compliance with democratic norms, commitments undertaken before the Council of Europe and societal expectations of the need for change. 

"Any redesign of the Constitution for the sake of politicians' current interests is a sign of the country's political degradation. The whole point of the Constitution and constitutional law in general is to limit such impulses of political figures — by establishing fundamental long-term rules that are difficult to modify in the domain of the country's governance, as well as the rights and freedoms of citizens. Constitutions were not created to perpetuate the power of rulers — quite the contrary. Monarchies don't need a Constitution, while a bronze-plated ruling power, as a rule, is a guarantee of stagnation. 

"Frequent amendments to the Constitution are generally doubtful," said Kocharian.