“Haykakan Zhamanak” believes that the Armenian government will find a way of legally circumventing the Constitutional Court ruling to continue its controversial reform of the national pension system. “There is a thinly veiled hint about this in the decision made public by [court chairman] Gagik Harutiunian,” comments the paper. It predicts that the government will simply change the official name of additional pension contributions levied from workers.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” calls the 64-page verdict extremely ambiguous, singling out the court’s conclusion that the unconstitutional provisions of the reform will not be deemed null and void before September 30. The paper also notes that opponents of the reform were at first jubilant, some of them evening expressing gratitude to President Serzh Sarkisian. But officials made clear later on Wednesday that the reform will continue to be enforced at least until the end of September. “In effect, this complicated decision has elevated Armenia to a higher level of lawlessness,” says the pro-opposition daily.
“Hraparak” similarly cites opposition warnings that the ruling is a “trap” designed to fool opponents of the reform into thinking that it has been abolished. The paper suggests that the authorities are simply trying to win time. “We have lost our ability to be surprised,” it says. “Even so, it has to be admitted that yesterday’s decision by the Constitutional Court took many by surprise.” It says there are already several conspiracy theories circulated about the development. According to one of them, President Sarkisian is preparing ground for sacking his government.
“168 Zham” says that the government’s dismissal is a real possibility. The paper speculates that Sarkisian may scapegoat the government for the unpopular decision that has caused many street protests in recent months.
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” calls the 64-page verdict extremely ambiguous, singling out the court’s conclusion that the unconstitutional provisions of the reform will not be deemed null and void before September 30. The paper also notes that opponents of the reform were at first jubilant, some of them evening expressing gratitude to President Serzh Sarkisian. But officials made clear later on Wednesday that the reform will continue to be enforced at least until the end of September. “In effect, this complicated decision has elevated Armenia to a higher level of lawlessness,” says the pro-opposition daily.
“Hraparak” similarly cites opposition warnings that the ruling is a “trap” designed to fool opponents of the reform into thinking that it has been abolished. The paper suggests that the authorities are simply trying to win time. “We have lost our ability to be surprised,” it says. “Even so, it has to be admitted that yesterday’s decision by the Constitutional Court took many by surprise.” It says there are already several conspiracy theories circulated about the development. According to one of them, President Sarkisian is preparing ground for sacking his government.
“168 Zham” says that the government’s dismissal is a real possibility. The paper speculates that Sarkisian may scapegoat the government for the unpopular decision that has caused many street protests in recent months.
(Tigran Avetisian)