Armenians have voted to curb presidential powers in a disputed referendum, sparking protests from the opposition which says the reforms are aimed at keeping the ruling elite in power.
The reforms will make the president a ceremonial figure, elected by parliament for a term of seven years instead of the current five.
Around two-thirds (63%) backed the constitutional changes in Sunday’s referendum, official results showed on Monday. Turnout stood at 51%.
The government said the changes were needed to shake up the political system and strengthen democracy in the former Soviet state.
But the opposition cried foul, claiming that the real aim is to keep President Serzh Sarkisian, in power after his second term ends in 2018.
“What happened today is state treason,” a top opposition leader, Raffi Hovannisyan, told supporters at a rally early Monday, calling on the president and prime minister to resign and vowing mass protests.
I've been an observer in 4, now 5, Armenian elections. This was by far the most violent, dangerous and fraudulent I've witnessed. #ArmRef15
— Babken DerGrigorian (@Babken) December 6, 2015
The opposition also complained of widespread violations at polling stations and called on Armenians to take to the streets.
A good number of precincts reported 0 'no' votes. 0. One doesn't know whether to laugh or cry #ArmRef15
— Karena Avedissian (@KarenaAv) December 7, 2015
Some 500 protesters rallied in the capital Yerevan on Sunday night, demanding the results be annulled.
On Thursday, Sarkisian refused to repeat his earlier pledge not to run for any government office after his second and last term as president expires in 2018 and defended his initiative, saying it will empower the opposition.
A shrewd former military officer, Sarkisian, 61, has been in charge of the small landlocked nation of 2.9 million since winning a vote in 2008.