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Demands for a constitutional reform were made at one time by Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), Heritage Party, and the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD), Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with representatives of Armenian television channels.

As was reported, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan gave an extensive interview to representatives of Armenian television channels on the evening of December 2.  Serzh Sargsyan responded to numerous questions concerning the amendments to the Constitution of Armenia, the necessity and goals of initiating the constitutional reform, the importance of the proposed amendments for the state, the arguments put forward by opponents of the constitutional reform, etc. Reporters also asked the president questions about the special operation recently conducted by law enforcement agencies in Yerevan as well as the preliminary investigation into the criminal case opened by the Investigative Department of Armenia’s National Security Service. 

When asked why the constitutional reform was initiated right now, at the current stage, the head of state replied:  “The question about why it is done now sounds rhetorical.  If it was done a year ago or a year later, wouldn’t the same question be asked?”

“Secondly, I want to understand what public demand is and how that demand is measured. If anyone thinks that in 1995, 2003 or 2005 people took to the streets to demand a Constitution, then you can say that I am wrong. I think public demand is expressed through political forces. The biggest of our political parties – PAP, Heritage and ARFD constantly demanded that. If there was not a demand of the society, why did they speak about it after the presidential elections?” the president said.

“To meet the demand of Heritage Party’s leader, I proposed that he should set up a commission, head it and suggest a constitutional reform.  If there was no such demand, then why should I make him that offer?” S. Sargsyan said when touching upon his meeting with Raffi Hovannisian following the 2013 presidential election.

As for the need for a constitutional reform in Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan said that current constitutional regulations contain threats, and he considers it his duty to eliminate those threats. 

“Regardless of when we would do it, this question would be asked without fail because the world is rapidly changing, because a different geopolitical situation has emerged, the domestic political mood has changed in Armenia, and I see a danger in some regulations of the current Constitution and I consider it my duty to state about those threats,” the president said adding he cannot see the danger and sit with his hands folded only because some people say that now is the wrong time.

“It is just a proposal, and we will see on December 6: if the people need these changes, we will proceed along that path. Our top priority is the proper conduct of the referendum, and not just reform implementation. Bringing about changes is not a matter of life and death, and in general, no vote was such a matter to me.  If you remember, during both presidential elections I said that it was not a matter of life and death and new days would come after the elections. The same can be said now,” Serzh Sargsyan noted. 

“But I must speak about the threats  - as the president and as a man who has spent half his life in agencies ensuring security. I am obliged to do that,” the head of state said.