“There is no doubt that the vast majority of Armenians do not care about the process of constitutional changes and their hostility towards the authorities is enough of a reason for them to vote against that document [proposed by President Serzh Sarkisian,]” writes “Zhoghovurd.” “The question is who will organize a nationwide No vote.” The paper is confused by what it sees as a multitude of opposition coalitions formed to campaign against the constitutional changes. It says that former President Robert Kocharian and Orinats Yerkir Party leader Artur Baghdasarian have added to this confusion.
“Zhamanak” believes that Armenia’s next parliamentary elections due in May 2017 will be much more important for domestic politics than the upcoming referendum on Sarkisian’s constitutional amendments. “All political actors engaged in this process in one way or another are probably conscious of this reality,” writes the paper. It says that senior figures from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and other government loyalists are already trying to ensure their presence in the next Armenian parliament.
“Aravot” editor Aram Abrahamian says that he will vote against the constitutional changes because he thinks that “no drastic change would benefit us now.” “But I have equally warm feelings towards both proponents and opponents [of the reform] because [their attitudes] cannot be a criterion for interpersonal relationships,” he writes. “Nor can that be a reason for blackmail.”
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” ridicules Economy Minister Karen Chshmaritian’s claims that overall foreign investment in Armenia actually rose in the first half of this year. “Even the human rights ombudsman, Karen Andreasian, said recently that they tell people abroad to come here and make investments but that everyone refuses to do that, citing serious obstacles to investments,” writes the paper.
“Hraparak” also accuses Chshmaritian of misleading the public. The paper claims that no government minister is as notorious for distorting and mispresenting facts as Chshmaritian.
(Tigran Avetisian)