Galust Sahakyan to Zaruhi Postanjyan: Go and read Chapter 10 of Constitution (video)
“When electing an Ombudsman, we need to have several candidates to choose from. There must be several candidates for the post to ensure healthy competition,” Armenian lawmaker Zaruhi Postanjyan said in parliament on February 1. “One of the candidates can be nominated by factions, the other by independent MPs, the next by the corresponding Committee. Otherwise tomorrow you will again present us your candidate and exclude competition,” she said. As soon as she finished her speech, Armenian Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan said, “Please, go and read Chapter 10 of the Constitution before the voting. Had you read it, you would not have made such an announcement. Chapter 10 clearly states that only the relevant parliamentary committee [Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs] has the authority to nominate the next candidate for the post of Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia. Mr Sahakyan added that relevant chapter on human rights of Armenia’s Constitution has been enforced to resolve the issues.
