YEREVAN. – It is premature for Armenia to pass to a parliamentary system of governance, National Archives of Armenia Deputy Director and historian Edgar Hovhannisyan stated during a press conference on Thursday.

To note, Armenia will mark Constitution Day on Friday. 

“Formerly, our Constitution assumed a presidential republic. [But] following the referendum in 2005, the amendments were curtailed and some important functions were transferred to the parliament. But it is hardly the right time to pass to a fully parliamentary republic,” Hovhannisyan stressed.       

In his view, such step would be risky against the backdrop of the foreign policy challenges that Armenia faces today.

“At the moment, the President [of Armenia], regardless of who occupies the position, should have fairly wide powers,” the historian added.