PM Pashinyan's Takeover: President Loses Authority as Prime Minister Seizes More Control

During Thursday's Cabinet session, significant changes were set in motion as the Armenian government greenlit draft amendments to the Law on Bodies of the State Administration System. These amendments mark a shift in authority, transferring the power to appoint and dismiss the director and deputies of the National Security Service of Armenia from the president to the prime minister.

Previously vested in the president's purview, this crucial decision now places the responsibility for the appointment and dismissal of key leadership within the National Security Service under the direct authority of the Prime Minister.

The rationale behind this pivotal amendment lies in the hierarchical structure outlined within the Law on Bodies of the State Administration System. The explanation accompanying the decision highlights that the Service operates as a body subordinate to the prime minister. However, the current regulations mandate the appointment and dismissal of the Service's director and deputy directors by the president, creating a discrepancy in the organizational framework.

In light of this discrepancy, the government has deemed it essential to align the regulations with the functional hierarchy, ensuring that the Prime Minister, as the overseeing authority to which the Service reports, assumes the responsibility for appointing and dismissing these key personnel.

This significant shift in the allocation of authority within Armenia's administrative structure sets the stage for a potential reconfiguration of the National Security Service's leadership appointment process, placing it squarely within the purview of the Prime Minister's office. The amendments reflect a strategic reorganization aimed at streamlining governance and consolidating decision-making channels within the country's security apparatus.