YEREVAN. – The Specialized Committee on Constitutional Reforms does not back away from the concept of a two-phased parliamentary election system in Armenia, albeit the Venice Commission recommends that this provision be removed from the new draft Constitution. 

Committee member, and ex-Minister of Justice, Hrayr Tovmasyan told about the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In Tovmansayn’s words, two-phased elections will ensure stability in Armenia.

“In contrast to the presidential system [of governance], the parliamentary system has a problem that the executive [branch of] power is not formed within a certain period,” he said. “We cannot afford ourselves such a luxury.”

In the expert’s view, each country creates its own mechanism for stability.

Tovmasyan also recalled that, pursuant to the current system of governance in Armenia, the political force that loses the presidential election has to wait another five years to run in the next election. Pursuant to the new draft Constitution, however, the loser will get votes by way of a two-phased election, and will not lose its mandate in the second round.

Chapters 1 through 15 of the new draft Constitution of Armenia have been made public so far. Accordingly, the country will make a transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system of governance.