Parliament adopts “rules of procedure” constitutional law

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament adopted the “Rules of Procedure of the Parliament” Constitutional Law at third reading.

88 MPs voted in favor of adopting the bill, 8 refrained. None voted against.

Under the Rules of Regulation-Law, the sessions of the Parliament will be in a four day sitting format. The four day sitting will begin at Tuesdays, and on Mondays the Council’s session will kick off to decide the agenda. The sessions will start at 10:00.

Lawmakers will be able to quit the faction but still maintain the mandate, but won’t be able to become member of another faction. In case of quitting factions, lawmakers will be unable to be included in committees and international delegations.

The disputed provision of the law – under which the faction leader is able to vote on behalf of the MP in case the latter is on an official trip – has been changed. It is defined that the lawmaker must hand over his stance on the specific voting case in an enclosed envelope to the Secretariat, and during the voting process the envelope will be opened and the MP’s vote is added to the general outcome.