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People should have right to initiate referendum

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  • People should have right to initiate referendum

    A1plus

    | 14:39:24 | 30-04-2005 | Politics |

    PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE RIGHT TO INITIATE REFERENDUM

    The idea of referendum appeared in the 18-th century in the US in New
    England State and then spread over the other states.

    Then it was conveyed to France, Switzerland. After the First World War the
    institute of referendum was established in Lichtenstein and later in other
    states of Western Europe. `Historically the appearance of the institute of
    referendum is bound with the non-confidence of the people to the
    parliament', specialist of constitutional right Vardan Poghosyan says.

    «Referendum is a means of exercising direct democracy, when problems are
    solved by people, who vote `for' or `against'. The principal kind of
    democracy is representative, that is people elect their representatives -
    deputies, President and exercise their power with the help of these people.
    Direct democracy cannot replace the representative one. It would be naive to
    consider that all the important issues will be solved positively», he
    considers.

    «Constitutional amendments in the RA can be initiated by the President or
    the National Assembly. In a number of countries, the possibilities of
    conducting a referendum are much wider and what is the most important thing,
    the citizens possess the right to initiate referendum. These states are
    Albania, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia, etc.

    In semi-presidential states there is no right to hold vote on no confidence
    to the President on a civic initiative. `In Austria, Island and Slovakia the
    parliament can pass a resolution on withdrawal of the President via a
    referendum. If the people do not support the initiative the parliament is
    dismissed', Vardan Poghosyan noted. In his opinion one of the shortcomings
    of our Constitution is the absence of people's right for any kind of
    initiative. In 9 European state with the essential number of signatures the
    citizens can suggest to hold e referendum on a bill. In Italy a referendum
    may be held on cancellation of a law or its separate clauses. `As result of
    constitutional changes the people should be rendered the right for civic and
    legislative initiatives', Vardan Poghosyan resumed.

    Victoria Abrahamyan
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