Abstract
Markarov discusses the formation and development of the semi-presidential system in Armenia since its foundation in 1991. The author identifies and compares the formal powers of the president, prime minister, and parliament under the 1995 Constitution as well as the amendments introduced through the Constitutional referendum in 2005. Markarov argues that the highly presidentialized semi-presidential system that was introduced in the early 1990s gradually evolved into a Constitutionally more balanced structure. However, in practice, the president has remained dominant and backed by a presidential majority; the president has thus been able to set the policy agenda and implement his preferred policy.
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Notes
- 1.
After the referendum, speaking at a press conference, Viktor Dallakyan, secretary of the Justice bloc, stated that according to the opposition’s information, the turnout was only 16.7 % of the overall number of voters.
- 2.
http://www.president.am/hy/decrees/item/947/. Accessed May 3 2014.
- 3.
Some of the Republican Party members who had close relations with assassinated V. Sargsyan left the party and later formed the Republic Party, while others remained active in the Yerkrapah veterans union.
- 4.
The resignation followed unsuccessful attempts by the government to introduce a bill on pension reform, parts of which were deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. In addition, the government was unable to assure a targeted 7 % gross domestic product growth, achieving only about 4 %. T. Sargsyan was later appointed Armenian Ambassador to the USA.
References
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Markarov, A. (2016). Semi-presidentialism in Armenia. In: Elgie, R., Moestrup, S. (eds) Semi-Presidentialism in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-38781-3_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-38781-3_3
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