YEREVAN. – There should be a nationwide protest against the constitutional amendments in Armenia.

Member of the opposition Heritage National Assembly (NA) Faction, Zaruhi Postanjyan, on Tuesday noted the aforesaid in the NA. She stated this while presenting her position on the draft amendments to the Electoral Code, and the Law on Identification [(ID)] Cards.

The objective of these bills is to give the Armenian citizens the right to vote—aside from passports—also with ID cards, and including in the forthcoming constitutional referendum.

In Postanjyan’s words, even though Armenia and its people need systemic changes, they cannot be achieved through amendments to the Electoral Code, or the law.

“There is one solution: A nationwide uprising,” the opposition MP stressed. “We must show our strength. The [respective] demonstrations shall be held for several days until referendum day, also on this day, and a few more days after it.” 

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 primarily the authorities’ attempt to hang on to power.