Monday, April 15 2019 18:04

ArmInfo. Today, at a meeting of the  standing parliamentary commission on state and legal issues, a heated  debate has been heated when the package of draft laws regulating the  new government structure has been considered.

It all started with the fact that the Minister of Justice of Armenia,  Artak Zeynalyan, presenting a package of draft laws to the  commission, noted that it is proposed to reduce the post of first  deputy prime minister, as well as the number of ministries from 17 to  12. "When optimizing the structure of the government, international  experience was taken into account. We will do our best to make the  work of the government with the new structure effective, "Zeynalyan  stressed.

Thus, according to the draft law, the new government will include the  following ministries: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of  Defense, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Healthcare, Ministry of  Emergency Situations, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Labor and  Social Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of  Territorial management and infrastructure, the Ministry of Education,  Science, Culture and Sport, as well as the Ministry of High  Technologies and Industry. "We also plan to create the post of Chief  Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs.

He will represent the government of Armenia in relations with the  Diaspora, "the minister stressed. Gevorg Petrosyan, MP from the  Prosperous Armenia faction, harshly criticized the proposal."  Representatives of the Prosperous Armenia Party have repeatedly noted  that the ministries of culture and Diasporas should be maintained in  our country they are of great importance. How can one combine several  ministries into one?  What do you think the Minister of Education and  Science has to do with sport? Does the Ministry of Agriculture have  priority in ensuring economic development, and do you propose to  reduce it? It is unacceptable. Many people will lose their jobs and  will be forced to emigrate. How many employees will you reduce during  this optimization? ", Petrosyan wondered.

Zeynalyan tried to reason with the latter, saying that for that  matter, the government should only do what to create ministries and  provide people with work. "We carry out all our reforms for the  benefit of the country.  And a few dozen people will be reduced -  ministers, deputy ministers, their assistants, advisers. The rest of  the staff of optimized structures will work in the new united  ministries," the justice minister said, assuring that the society  approved these reforms, c voted for the power that announced them  before the elections.

In response, Petrosyan stated that all Zeynalyan's answers were not  substantiated, and the government was not prepared for these  discussions. "You answer in the same way as representatives of the  Republican Party, proceeding only from the reality that you have  power and a majority in parliament. Then let's create 3 ministries  and confine ourselves to that," the angry Petrosyan concluded.

Edmon Marukyan, head of the Bright Armenia faction, also expressed  his indignation. The latter said that such a structure is not  effective. "The government's proposed government structure is aimed  at preserving the superprofessional system of government. Nikol  Pashinyan himself being a MP many times said that the National  Security Service and the police must become ministries in order to  get out of the prime minister's subordination. So, why, after  becoming prime minister, does he forget all his previous statements?  What does the liquidation of the Ministry of Culture mean? After all,  there is a real serious threat in ensuring the cultural security of  Armenia, and for this reason, the preservation of this Ministry would  be fully justified, "said Marukyan.

In response, Zeynalyan only stated that if the National Security  Service and the police were not part of the government, it was  necessary.

In conclusion of the debates, the representatives of the commission  nevertheless gave a positive conclusion to the package of draft laws  on changing the structure of the Government of Armenia.

After that, Marukyan in the corridor, in an interview with  journalists, said that all this would end very badly. "Subsequently,  they will again change the structure of the government, this method  of work is not effective. But it will be too late," Marukian noted.