YEREVAN -- The Armenian parliament has voted to hold a referendum to change the constitution in order to establish a parliamentary republic.
In the parliamentary vote on October 5, 103 lawmakers were in favor of the reform, 10 voted against, and three abstained.
According to the proposed changes, presidential powers will be transferred to the parliament and the president will no longer be elected via a direct vote of the people but rather by parliament.
The presidential term would also be extended from five to seven years.
President Serzh Sarkisian, whose second term in office ends in 2018, is supposed to set the date for the referendum this year.
Hundreds of opposition activists have for several days been protesting against the constitutional changes.
Police detained several demonstrators outside of parliament on October 5.
