YEREVAN. – Zhoghovurd daily has learned that the representatives of the authorities of the Republic of Armenia (RA) have come to the conclusion that President—and ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Chairman—Serzh Sargsyan should not to participate in the campaign for the referendum on constitutional amendments, the daily reported.

“In private conversations, the RPA members note that the representatives of their campaign wing promised to Serzh Sargsyan to do everything properly so that he does not personally participate in the campaign.

“The RPA believes that RA Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan’s appointment [as chief of the RPA campaign headquarters] was already sufficient, and it is not necessary for Serzh Sargsyan, by likewise participating in the campaign, to increase the ‘No’ [to constitutional amendments] front’s claims that the ‘Yes’ front is using the entire government resources in favor of the ‘Yes,’” wrote Zhoghovurd.

The referendum on Armenia’s draft constitutional amendments is slated for December 6.

Pursuant to the new draft Constitution, the country will make a transition from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary system of governance.

The opponents of the proposed constitutional amendments, however, consider them to be the authorities’ attempt to hang on to power.