Constitutional reforms not aimed at ensuring third term for Serzh Sargsyan – Sharmazanov

I am not of the opinion that the Constitution has been reformed for Serzh Sargsyan to rule for the third term, Vice Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly, Republican party spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov told the reporters on Wednesday, commenting on the opinion voiced by Armenia’s second president in an interview to Russian “NTV” channel.

“The assessment of the second president over the constitutional reforms is not a novelty for us.  There were political figures, retired presidents who spoke against the reforms,” Sharmazanov said.

He noted that he can reaffirm the position of only the Republican party which considers that the constitutional reforms and transition into parliamentary system was a necessity.

“As to the third term of ruling by Serzh Sargsyan I am not of the opinion that the constitutional reforms were implemented with that aim. It was reformed with more serious grounds, and we have talked about it earlier,” he said.

“There were different opinions about nomination of Serzh Sargsyan, but I think that the election of Serzh Sarsgyan as of April 17 stemmed from the state interests of Armenia and being a party which received the majority of votes at the elections, we were to decide who to trust this position,” Sharmazanov stressed.