Reduction in the number of communities did not lead to change: David Ghazinyan

Since 2011, the number of communities has decreased from 919 to 70, but no substantive positive shifts have been recorded in connection with the administrative-territorial changes. This was stated in parliament by David Ghazinyan, candidate for Chairman of the Committee on Territorial Administration and Environmental Protection.

Addressing the process of community consolidation, the lawmaker noted that its goal was not simply to reduce the number of communities, but to increase administrative capacity, decentralize financial resources, and improve the quality of public services.

“The expansion of central government levers, including the Prime Minister’s appointment of temporary acting heads of communities, raises serious questions from the standpoint of the legitimacy of local self-government and democracy,” Ghazinyan emphasized, proposing that this mechanism be abolished and that new elections be called in the event of the resignation of elected community heads.