Ruben Rubinyan: under the new Constitution, Armenian would remain the sole state language, with no possibility of amendment
- Published
- Place
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Armenia’s parliamentary speaker Ruben Rubinyan said on 2 November, in a video posted on his Facebook page, that the new Constitution will make the article establishing Armenian as the Republic’s sole state language unamendable. Unlike under the current text, it will no longer be possible to change that article, and therefore to change the state language or add another one. He said the clause will protect “the main pillar of our national identity: our language”. He criticised proposals by various figures to give that status to Russian or English: “We do not need new state languages. Armenian is the language of the people who founded the state.” Rubinyan also called for steps to ensure the opposition does not block the adoption of the text.
Analysis
The statement answers a recurring debate in Armenia: should Russian, widely spoken in the country, or English be given official status? By locking the language into the basic law, Nikol Pashinyan’s majority presents itself as the guardian of national identity ahead of the constitutional referendum. Nothing is settled yet, though: the draft Constitution must first be published, then approved by voters.
Possible consequences
No immediate effect: the clause will only apply if the new Constitution is adopted by referendum.
