YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Official campaigning for a referendum on proposed constitutional reforms kicked-off in Armenia on October 4–after President Robert Kocharian signed a law establishing the nationwide vote would take place on November 27.
If passed–the amendmen’s would create a strict separation of powers between the judicial–executive–and legislative branches–and pass greater powers from the president to parliament and the prime minister–They would also remove the President from the Council of Justice–a body that plays a key role in appointing judges–and would eliminate a clause outlawing dual citizenship for diaspora Armenia’s.
Besides the Council of Europe–the amendmen’s have been publicly endorsed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe–as well as the US and Great Britian.
To pass–the amendmen’s must be backed by at least one third of Armenia’s 2.4 million eligible voters–and would enter into force two years from the referendum.
