Armenia holds referendum on divisive constitutional reforms

Armenia held a referendum on 6 December 2015 regarding a constitutional reform which the opposition claimed was aimed at keeping the country's president, Serzh Sargsyan, in power.

Under the proposal, the Armenian political system would change by naming the prime minister as the head of government and offering the president a ceremonial role. Armenia would change from being a presidential republic to become a parliamentary republic.

The opposition alleged that the initiative was aimed at allowing Mr Sargsyan to maintain his grip on power by switching jobs after he stepped down as president at the end of his second term, in 2018.

Approximately, 65% of voters supported the reform in a nation-wide vote, while 30% opposed it.

• Primary Source

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