Armenia votes on giving president’s powers to prime minister

Around two-thirds (63 percent) backed the constitutional changes in Sunday’s referendum, with 32 percent voting against, according to preliminary results from the election commission.

Armenia held a referendum Sunday on proposed constitutional changes that would give more powers to the prime minister and parliament at the expense of the president, who would become largely a figurehead.

In accordance with the new realities, the parliament of Armenia gained power to appoint and dismiss prime minister and the president.

But the opposition cried foul, claiming that the real aim is to keep President Serzh Sarkisian, in power after his second term ends in 2018.

“If adopted, the amendments will perpetuate the rule of Sarkisian and his Republican Party”, said Aram Manukyan, an MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress party.

The Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian, during the meeting also demanded the resignation of the current government of the Republic and urged all concerned people to come to the next rally on December 7th on the 27th anniversary of the Spitak quake.

Opposition parties represented in parliament support the reform, as they believe it will give them a greater say in how the country is governed.

A shrewd former military officer, Sarkisian has been president of the small landlocked nation of 2.9 million since winning a vote in 2008 that saw bloody clashes between police and supporters of the defeated opposition candidate in which 10 people died.

Election officials say the turnout for the referendum was 50.51 percent of eligible voters.

He won a second term in 2013.