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.