On April 25, the NA deputy Nikol Pashinyan had an interview in the framework of “Urvagits” TV program of “Kentron” TV.
During the program, host Petros Ghazaryan asked a question: “I have read today that Karen Karapetyan has legal problems with being a resident of Armenia and becoming Prime Minister. People say that Nikol Pashinyan has problems as well, as I understand that you have I left the university and did not graduate, and the Prime Minister should have higher education. Are there any problems with the law here or not?”
In response to the question Nikol Pashinyan mentions: “As far as I know, there is no such requirement for the prime minister and there is for the ministers.” Petros Ghazaryan once again asked, “Is there related to the Minister?” And Pashinyan replied “yes”.
Notably Article 48 of the RA Constitution provides the Right of Suffrage and Right to participate in a Referendum according to which Everyone who has attained the age of twenty-five, has held citizenship of only the Republic of Armenia for the preceding four years, has been permanently residing in the Republic for the preceding four years, has the right of suffrage and has command of the Armenian language, may be elected as a Deputy of the National Assembly.
This applies to the Members of the Government as well, and is provided in the RA Constitution
According to article 148 of the RA Constitution, Requirements Set Forth for the Members of the Government are:
- A member of the Government must meet the requirements set forth for a Deputy.
- The incompatibility requirements prescribed for a Deputy shall extend to the member of the Government. The law may prescribe additional incompatibility requirements therefor.
Thus we may conclude from this that Nikol Pashinyan’s claim that higher education is a mandatory requirement for the ministers is contrary to the Constitution. Higher education is not required for MPs, ministers, deputy prime ministers and prime minister.
