Opposition’s Plans for ‘No’ Campaign Signal Constitutional Referendum, Says Aleksanyan

YEREVAN — Armenian National Assembly Vice Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan has suggested that the opposition’s preparations for a campaign against a proposed new Constitution indicate that a referendum is expected to take place.

“If they are forming a ‘No’ campaign headquarters, that means there will be a referendum, because such headquarters are established when a referendum is held,” Aleksanyan told reporters.

He noted that opposition forces had repeatedly expressed strong resistance to supporting a constitutional referendum but pointed to recent political developments as evidence of shifting positions.

As an example, Aleksanyan cited the municipal council vote in Yeghegnadzor, where a representative elected on an alliance list with the Strong Armenia party supported a candidate from the Republic Party, led by Aram Sargsyan.

Aleksanyan described the vote as an example of cooperation between political forces that have previously held opposing positions.

In Yeghegnadzor, the municipal council reelected incumbent community head Davit Harutyunyan, the Republic Party’s candidate, with 14 votes in favor. Among those supporting his candidacy was a council member elected on the alliance list with Strong Armenia.