YEREVAN. – The political forces, which previously supported the constitutional amendments in Armenia, are now saying “no” to them during the campaign for the respective referendum.

Chairman of the Board of the opposition Armenian National Movement (ANM) party, Ararat Zurabyan, expressed such a view at a press conference on Friday. He noted that this is why they are not participating in this campaign.

“Activities of the political forces participating in the campaign are incomprehensible to us,” Zurabyan said.

As per the ANM leader, they support constitutional amendments from the very beginning, since they favor a parliamentary system of governance.

“It’s only surprising that the authorities have initiated this process,” he added.  

To a query as to whether President Serzh Sargsyan is making these amendments to hold on to power, Ararat Zurabyan responded: “I believe Serzh Sargsyan will leave; he publicly stated about this.”  

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, and conduct completely proportional parliamentary elections.

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