Local self-government reforms in Armenia

Jun 10

After the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia (July 5, 1995), the local self-government system was created in parallel with state governance in the public administration system of Armenia.

In the Republic of Armenia, the implementation of local self-government is regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, Articles 179-190 of Chapter 9 of which directly define issues related to local self-government, the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Local Self-Government, based on the European Charter of Local Self-Government, as well as other laws and legal acts.
Armenia ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 2002.

Local self-government is the right and ability of local self-government bodies to address public matters of local importance in accordance with the Constitution and laws, based on the interests of the community’s residents, and under their own responsibility.

The local self-government bodies (LSGs) are the community head and the community council, which are elected for a 5-year term based on general, equal, direct electoral rights through secret voting. The number of members in the community council is determined by the population of the community and can range from 5 to 65 members. 

The first elections for local self-government bodies were held on November 10, 1996, in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Local Self-Government Body Elections.

The issues of the community are categorized as mandatory and voluntary. The mandatory issues are those public matters whose resolution ensures the normal functioning of the community's life.

The voluntary issues are those that are not directly related to the normal functioning of community life and can be implemented only if additional financial resources are available, aside from the funds required for resolving the mandatory issues. The mandatory issues of the community are defined by the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Local Self-Government, while the local self-government bodies' powers to resolve these issues are established by law.

The powers of local self-government bodies are divided into their own powers for resolving mandatory and voluntary issues, as well as state-delegated powers aimed at more efficient implementation of state body powers. The community's own powers are exclusively directed at solving the community’s mandatory issues.

The implementation of powers assigned to state bodies can be transferred to the community heads as state-delegated powers by law. State-delegated powers are subject to mandatory financing from the state budget for the purpose of financing the delegated powers.

The voluntary issues of the community, the powers directed at their resolution, and the procedure for their implementation are defined by the decision of the community council.

Local self-government in Armenia operates only at the community level. It is a separate level of public administration. Each community consists of one or several settlements. 

There are 1003 settlements in Armenia, united into 71 communities, 64 of which are consolidated communities. The capital Yerevan, Gyumri, and five densely populated communities with national minorities have not been merged: 

Shamiram in the Aragatsotn province, Vedi in the Ararat province, Ferik in the Armavir province, Fiolietovo in the Lori province, and Arzni in the Kotayk province. Another 4 communities: Metsadzor, Alagyaz, Arevut, Lermontovo are populated by national minorities, but are united communities.

As a result of the reforms carried out in the fields of local self-government and administrative-territorial division in Armenia from 2015 to 2022, the decentralisation of powers policy has been deepened. Local self-government bodies in already established multi-settlement communities have been entrusted with larger powers, thus enhancing their role in the public administration system. The government of Armenia developed and adopted the 'Concept of Decentralisation of Powers,' which will be followed by the development and approval of the 'Decentralisation of Powers Strategy' and the corresponding action plans, followed by their implementation.

Since 2015, the administrative-territorial reforms have been carried out in 6 phases:

2015: First phase of administrative-territorial reforms (915/896)
2016: Second phase of administrative-territorial reforms (896/793)
2017: Third phase of administrative-territorial reforms (793/502)
2020: Fourth phase of administrative-territorial reforms (502/483)
2021: Fifth phase of administrative-territorial reforms (483/79)
2022: Sixth phase of administrative-territorial reforms (79/71)

As a result of the merger of communities, a more competitive council has been formed, positions have been redistributed, and redundant positions (e.g., secretary, financier, accountant, etc.) have been replaced with service-oriented positions. 

This has made it possible to implement capital investments in settlements using the unified community budget. Large-scale investments are being made by international organizations, with capital projects and procurement of equipment being carried out thanks to these investments. The council meetings have become more public, transparent, interested, competitive, and targeted.