Yerevan/Mediamax/. National Assembly of Armenia approved a package of legislative changes, providing for increase of excise rate for cigarettes, petrol and strong spirits, in first reading today.

Mediamax reports that 54 MPs voted for approval of amendments, 21 – against.

Before the launch of the voting, Head of “Dashnaktsutiun” faction stated that authors of the draft law did not take into account the suggestions of the faction and try to approve amendments, basing on the interests of importers and not the domestic producers. According to him, these changes will directly harm the financial situation of the population, since monopolistic enterprises will increase the prices for goods artificially.

Speaker of the parliament Hovik Abramyan criticized the statement of “Dashnaktsutiun” faction representative, noting that “coalitional government of Armenia has not been formed to lobby the interests of importers in the parliament or approve laws by order”.

“We always support the interests of domestic producers and we should carry out discussions and approve amendments to other laws, which will allow subsidizing certain spheres for domestic producers”, National Assembly Speaker stated.