Application of controversial tax law postponed (video)
The National Assembly today postponed the adoption of government-proposed amendments to the sales tax until July 1. Seventy-five MPs voted in favour of the bill, 1 against and 44 legislators abstained from voting. Before the vote, Naira Zohrabyan, Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), and Ruben hakobyan, Head of the Heritage faction, said their parties would abstain from the vote. The latter accounted their decision for the agreement reached with the prime minister. The same opinion was voiced by Heghine Bisharyan, Head of the Court of Law (OEK) faction. Armen Rustamyan, Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun faction, said they would vote for the bill because they did not want a worse option to be put to the vote. Angered by his colleagues’ statements, Vahram Baghdasaryan, Head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) faction, said, “Can you imagine what will happen if the HHK also abstained from voting? We shall vote for the bill to give you an opportunity to reconsider the amendments,” he said. “No matter how the National Assembly votes the main responsibility lies on the HHK,” said NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan. Levon Zurabyan, head of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), considered the postponement of the bill as the best solution in the given situation. “Since we do not want to bear responsibility for the inconsistent policy of the government and authorities, we shall abstain from voting,” he said.
