Armenian society fights against constitutional amendments

/By AzerNews/

By Laman Sadigova

The opposition parties in Armenia have decided to unite to protest constitutional changes, including the transition to a parliamentary system of government.

Several Armenian associations such as National Self-Determination, Founding Parliament, Union of Political Scientists, Heritage party, Democratic Armenia and the public initiative “Get Up, Armenia” have announced the establishment of a union that will fight against social and political problems such as constitutional changes.

Opponents of the constitutional reforms in Armenia signed a declaration to stop the forthcoming changes that the Armenian government prepared for the country, which is currently drowning in poverty, crisis, and many other unsolved problems.

Despite the fact that protests are nothing new in this weak, politically-imbalanced, and aggressive South Caucasus country, such a huge wave of social disagreement must be a big menace for the current Armenian government, which has done nothing to reassure people of its competence.

The Armenian National Congress, in its turn, has also called on people to unite and say no to the constitutional adventures of the authorities.

Levon Zarubyan, the head of the Congress, noted that under these conditions -- when the country is virtually in a state of war -- the transition to a parliamentary system could be dangerous.

Zurabyan also said that the main purpose and reason for the constitutional amendments is to maintain the power of Serzh Sargsyan, which the current constitution does not allow. He stressed that if Sargsyan loses power, he will “leave forever.”

Sargsyan cannot remove constitutional restrictions on his nomination for a third term, fearing clashes in the country. The only way for him to maintain authority is for the country to adopt a parliamentary system. In this case, Sargsyan will be able to rule the country as the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Sargsyan’s extension as president and his reluctance to cede power may be explained by his unwillingness to “trust” his long-term plans, especially his foreign-policy ambitions, to a future inheritor. Continuing his aggressive policy with regard to neighboring Azerbaijan, holding Azerbaijani lands under occupation, and Armenia's European integration are certainly among his primary goals.