The government’s efforts to push through draft legislation regarding the “State of Emergency” in Armenia has drawn the ire of opposition MP’s.

The parliament, which is controlled by the ruling coalition, has called for round-the-clock debate on the draft bill.

MP Tigran Torosyan, a former parliament president, said he noted “dangerous words” in the draft and that this is the reason why the government wants to get it passed as quickly as possible.

Torosyan said the bill is redundant since the RA Constitution already affords the parliament with wide-ranging powers to monitor any emergency situation.

Heritage Party MP Anahit Bakhshyan stated that the draft smelt “fishy”.

“This bill doesn’t improve the situation. If the authorities in power once again decide to execute a March 1st incident, people will be murdered again,” she said.

MP Bakhshyan hinted that the draft might be connected to the upcoming elections, which means that the government is gearing up for another state of emergency similar to 2008.

“It’s as if the government wants to warn the people in advance not to come out in defense of their rights. They’re saying the army will be let loose if they do,” the opposition legislator stated.