National Assembly building is occupied: Statements of Pashinyan and political powers differ
The scandalous draft law proposing amendments to the “Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly” was covered in an extraordinary session convened on Tuesday, which gave way to heated discussions. By that the only legal norm of dissolution of the National Assembly is eliminated. If the PM resigns and the NA doesn’t elect a PM twice, the NA is dissolved pursuant the law. Thus, if the NA is occupied, the session will fail, and the NA won’t be dissolved. At 19:00 the NA convened an extraordinary session to discuss the draft.
According to the opposition political powers—the NA RPA-ARF-PAP trio has speedily introduced the bill into the agenda and voted by hand at an extraordinary session.
The MPs voted by hand, as MPs of opposition “Yelk” bloc have gathered cards of other MPs. The bill passed with a vote of 67 in favor.
According to the draft opponents the proposal has political motivations, and from legal view it’s incomplete. They consider the goal is to prevent NA snap elections, demand of which was introduced by PM Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters.
Negotiations on extraordinary parliamentary elections had been launched yesterday—Pashinyan’s first meeting was with the head of NA RPA faction.
“By this we prevent possible anti-Constitutional actions of the process. Nothing else happens here, 7 days-7days term supposes his not being elected and not force it. It isn’t enshrined in the Constitution. It says under normal processes, when he isn’t elected, yes, by the force of law the issue of NA dissolution is being put forward,” ARF faction head Armen Rustamyan said.
Right after the voting PM Nikol Pashinyan first announced by his Facebook page that snap parliamentary elections are inevitable and they should be held in November-December (in case he started consultations with political powers just yesterday), then, minutes later, Pashinyan again through Facebook Live called on the people to gather in Baghramyan-Demirchyan avenue, near the National Assembly. He also called on the MPs, who consider they shouldn’t go against the power of people, not to register and vote for that notorious draft.
“I consider the authorities do his, as they don’t have a perspective program for development, thus, they intend to proceed with revolution,” political analyst Aghasi Yenokyan said.
He considers instability will engrave in the country if current developments continue, as the NA president can’t sign a document of self-dissolution, there is no similar mechanism in RA Constitution, Armenia’s president can’t sign any law on new snap elections, as those officials will roughly violate the constitutional order. He also added that the draft was adopted to exclude pressure over the NA, as it could have interrupted the NA session.
Following Pashinyan’s call, the citizens gathered in the mentioned destination. The avenue was blocked, the police and emergency were controlling the situation. It was tense.
After a while Pashinyan himself joined the demonstrators wearing the well-known “dukhov” cap. He called all the powers voting for the draft “counter-revolutionaries”. In case, when the political powers voting for the draft stated they aren’t against snap parliamentary elections, they only need to clarify the terms and other conditions (change of Election Code and etc.).
That time the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) stated it recalls its representatives from the parliament.
Right after it Nikol Pashinyan stated at the meeting that he dismisses ministers representing PAP and ARF. Moreover, Pashinyan stated after the decision is de jure in force, he’ll resign as the PM so that no one considers he clings to the position of the PM.
He stated he’ll continue the functions of the PM enshrined in the Constitution.
The situation was still tense, Pashinyan called on to hold meetings in all cities and settlements of Armenia, being ready for revolutionary acts. He stated Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan from PAP intended to stay, and he welcomes that decision.
Then Pashinyan introduced the procedure of adoption of the draft, which president Armen Sarkissian should sign in the period of 21 days and asked people to authorize him to ask the president not to sign it, after which he’ll resign. After it, if the NA doesn’t elect a PM twice, snap parliamentary elections will be held.
After this sharp statement Pashinyan said he’d go to the National Assembly to negotiate with the political powers inside.
Pashinyan went to the National Assembly, opened the gates and entered the NA yard with demonstrators. The situation was still heated, tense in emotions. The MPs couldn’t exit from the building as the demonstrators have occupied it.
PM Nikol Pashinyan negotiated over snap parliamentary elections with NA head Ara Babloyan. Thousands of citizens were waiting for the end of negotiations.
After some time Nikol Pashinyan went out and told reporters “snap elections will be held in December”, adding those talks were important from the point of view of political culture.
He hurried to introduce negotiation results to the people. “Snap elections should be held as soon as possible, in December,” he said. As sources under the disposal of 168.am insist, all the political powers present in negotiations insisted their own postures. No one agreed with Pashinyan’s conditions.
In the end, Pashinyan said he had had a telephone conversation with president Armen Sarkissin, who’s in New York at the moment, and Pashinyan is sure A.Sarkissian won’t make a decision against the people.
Armine Vardanyan
