The opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) on Monday pledged to “do everything” to scuttle a sweeping constitutional reform planned by President Serzh Sarkisian, insisting that it is aimed at extending his rule beyond 2018.
In a statement, the party led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosian urged Armenians to turn an anticipated referendum on constitutional amendments into a vote of no confidence in Sarkisian and launch a “nationwide process” of regime change.
“Our task will be to explain to the people that a yes vote would mean supporting the establishment of a dictatorship and extension of Serzh Sarkisian’s rule,” Levon Zurabian, the HAK’s parliamentary leader, told a news conference. He stood by HAK claims that Sarkisian wants to transform Armenia into a parliamentary republic in order to stay in power after completing his second and final presidential term in 2018.
It was not clear Ter-Petrosian’s party plans to launch a campaign of anti-government street protests during or after the constitutional referendum expected in early 2016. The HAK statement only called for a consolidation of “the entire public” aimed at “ousting the current regime from power.”
The HAK hoped to make such a push for regime change together with the bigger and more influential Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) of Gagik Tsarukian as well as Raffi Hovannisian’s Zharangutyun party. However, the three-party alliance effectively collapsed last month after Tsarukian retired from politics under strong pressure from the Sarkisian administration. The BHK leader triggered a government crackdown on himself and his party after warning Sarkisian to drop the plans for constitutional reform or face opposition protests.
Zurabian said that the HAK is ready to continue to cooperate with the BHK and Zharangutyun if the latter remain opposed to the controversial reform.
Both the BHK and Zharangutyun were among several opposition parties whose leaders met with Sarkisian last week to discuss the reform process. Their representatives seemed to have softened their objections to a switch to the parliamentary system of governance.