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“I am far from believing that no single violation will be committed at the upcoming constitutional referendum in Armenia on December 6. Technical violations are reported even in the most developed European countries. The Armenian authorities will do their best so that the referendum will go successfully,” Vice Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly, the spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Edward Sharmazanov said at a press conference today.

Discussing the statements of political forces about inevitable falsifications during the referendum, Sharmazanov said: “Criticism is a good thing, but one should not wait for the sun to shine. They need to fulfill their functions, go to polling stations and monitor the process of voting”.

Sharmazanov said that debates of the draft constitutional amendments in the National Assembly showed that the majority of the parliamentary forces take a positive approach to the proposed amendments, which bears evidence of unprecedented political consolidation.

“I repeat we are not to blame that some political parties lack enough proxies in election commissions. I consider it immoral and wrong to accuse citizens of venality beforehand. If these political parties are unable to deal with the issue of their proxies in election commission, how can they lead the people in the future?” Sharmazanov said.

He also did not share the opinion that the constitutional reform is being carried out in haste. “There is no haste. One should not forget that it is a constitutional reform, not a new Constitution”. “A year and 8 months have been spent efficiently, with the most correct and rational option being selected,” Sharmazanov added.  

He described the current campaign ahead of the December 6 constitutional referendum as unprecedented. According to Sharmazanov, both opponents and supporters of the proposed amendments have expressed their opinions live on the air as part of ‘Yes and No’ reality show. “It is important in terms of freedom of expression and plurality of views,” he noted.

The constitutional referendum will be held in Armenia on December 6, 2015.  The campaign for the constitutional reform referendum began on October 10 and will end at midnight of December 4.