The campaign for the constitutional referendum in Armenia officially ended Friday with the Republican Party in power (HHK) reiterating its confidence in the fact that President Serzh Sargsyan will win popular support for the country’s transition to a system Parliamentary government.
The HHK spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, predicted that Sunday’s referendum will translate into votes “incomparably without equivalent” to the constitutional amendments drawn up by Serzh Sargsyan. He dismissed contrary statements made by the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and other opposition groups against the proposed changes.
Eduard Sharmazanov argued that they attracted only small crowds at their rallies in recent weeks. “A wedding celebration attracts more people than a HAK rally,” he quipped at a press conference. He stressed in particular the number of people who attended the most recent manifestation of the HAK held Thursday Liberty Square in Yerevan.
Speaking at the rally, one of the leaders of the opposition party, Levon Zurabian, the HAK said that and his allies successfully convinced most Armenians that constitutional reform is only intended to extend the reign Sarkisian beyond 2018.
Levon Zurabian said the authorities can not get a “yes” without falsifying the results of the referendum.
The public salvation front Armenia New, more radical opposition bloc who runs a non-stop sit-in in the same square, attracted only few people so far. But even so, its leaders said Friday they will succeed to overthrow Serzh Sargsyan soon.
One of them, Zhirayr Sefilian, announced qu’Arménie New actions will launch “decisive” immediately after the Sunday closing of the polling stations. “We’ll spend the night here,” he has told reporters. “There will be stairs to different buildings, street closures, pressures and so on.”
“If they try to force a vote in favor of the” yes “… people will have to impose their will and ensure the cancellation [of the referendum results,]” said Zhirayr Sefilian.
New HAK Armenia and argue that the parliamentary system would allow Serzh Sargsyan to stay in power after his last presidential term, which ends in 2018. Serzh Sargsyan gave them ammunition Thursday by refusing to explicitly reaffirm its earlier promises not to become the first minister or parliament speaker if Armenia turned into a parliamentary republic.
Leaders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun-FRA), an opposition party strongly supporting the constitutional reform, claimed Friday that Serzh Sargsyan was leaving the government in 2018 if édictait his constitutional changes. They also reiterated their view that these changes would significantly strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the country.
“If we do not change this system, this crisis will deepen and nothing will change in the lives of our citizens,” Armen Rustamian said the FRA.
Stéphane © armenews.com