There Are Bulls on the Road, and We Are in Red Dresses: Pashinyan on the Need for a New Constitution

The necessity of having a new Constitution is conditioned by filling the gap between the state and the citizen. This was stated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during an interview on Public Radio’s program "Security Environment."

"The Constitution must have an organic connection with the people. In my understanding, it is conditioned by filling the genetic gap with the people. The Constitution has never been adopted under conditions and in an environment where a citizen of the Republic of Armenia can say, 'I went, I voted, and I adopted the Constitution.' The government cannot change the Constitution or adopt a new Constitution. Only the people can make that decision," noted Pashinyan.

According to Pashinyan, having a constitutional referendum is essential for our transformation into a state of the people. He also mentioned that the new Constitution is one of the ideas behind the establishment of the Fourth Republic.

Responding to the question of whether the change in the Constitution is due to external pressure, Pashinyan illustrated with the following parable: "Imagine we are walking on a road and see bulls standing at the edges of the road, and we are in red dresses. We have to make a decision. By the way, that dress was worn by my grandmother. It’s a complicated road, and we must make a decision. We need to get through that road."