Presidential government to ensure Nagorno-Karabakh’s security - Vardges Baghryan
The purpose of constitutional reforms in Nagorno-Karabakh is not only system reforms, but also human rights protection, reforms in local government and judiciary, Vardges Baghryan, Head of the Democracy group in the National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), told Tert.am.
Asked about the reasons for a decision in favor of presidential government, but not parliamentary government, which was talked about before the four-day hostilities in early April, Mr Baghryan said that parliamentary government is logical as well, but presidential government is more advisable for Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Armenia and Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] must have a common policy. But the April war changed very much. I think it necessitated presidential government, a powerful centralized presidential government. Of course, parliamentary government is a democratic model, but power must be centralized – one person, the president, and a security council, must ensure Nagorno-Karabakh’s security. This is our top priority task,” Mr Baghryan said.
As long as the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status remains unsettled, the country needs powerful presidential government.
As to the weak points of the current semi-presidential system, Mr Baghryan said that a transition to presidential government will enhance the parliament’s role. According to him, the proposed model is not at all a “super-presidential” one, with all the power in one person’s hands. Rather, the parliament will counterbalance the presidential power.
“According to the concept, the National Assembly’s role will be enhanced. The concerns that all the power will be in the hands of one person, who may be mistaken, are ungrounded. The United States has presidential government, but is the president the only decision-maker? Of course, he is not. They have a parliament. The president appoints premier according to the current constitution, but he is not responsible for the government’s activities,” Mr Baghryan said.