Polls close in Armenia referendum on constitutional amendments

Polls close in Armenia referendum on constitutional amendments

PanARMENIAN.Net - Referendum on amendments to Armenia's Constitution ended Saturday, December 6, at 8 pm sharp.

According to the latest reports, violations across Yerevan and the provinces were registered during the referendum, with the police launching an investigation into double voting cases, as well as attempts of hindering the work of journalists. 1997 polling stations opened across the republic at 8 am local time with 2 550 323 voters set to cast ballots.

18 local and 6 international organizations monitored the referendum, including CIS observer mission, CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, foreign Central Election Committees, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR), representatives of foreign embassies accredited to Armenia.

The amended version of the Constitution would increase the role of the National Assembly, government and Prime Minister and essentially curtail the president's powers. Other changes include elimination of majoritarian voting system and full transition to proportional system of forming a parliament.

The most controversial is the provision envisaging compulsory formation of majority of one of political parties in parliamentary elections and holding a second round in case no majority is formed. Represented in the National Assembly, Heritage, Rule of Law and Armenian National Congress parties are against the amendments, while the ruling Republican, as well as Armenian Revolutionary and Prosperous Armenia parties are in favor of changes. Some political powers, including MP Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Agreement, have declared their intention to not participate in the discussions and reforms.

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