Fate of Genocide bill is in Sarkozy’s hands

PanARMENIAN.Net - The fate of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial is in hands of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, according to the head of Hay Dat French office.

“Sarkozy is authorized to sign the bill into law even if the constitutional court declares it unconstitutional,” Hrach Varzhapetian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

By signing the draft law before the constitutional court passes the decision, French President will indirectly prevent it from being debated in the court. However, he still keeps silence.

French Senators plan to appeal to the constitutional court with a request to reconsider constitutionality of the Genocide bill.

“If the President doesn’t sign the bill and in event of negative decision by the court, it will be returned to the French National Assembly floor again,” Varzhapetian said.

On January 23 the French Senate passed the bill with 127 votes for and 86 against.

On December 22, 2011, it was adopted by the French National Assembly. The bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.