YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The referendum on making Constitutional changes has been kicked off in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani APA news agency reported.

More than 5 million 260 thousand citizens have a right to take part in the referendum. The voting is being held also in abroad in 38 diplomatic representations of Azerbaijan.

After the changes in the Azerbaijani Constitution the President’s term of office will be extended from 5 to 7 years.

According to another provision, the Azerbaijani President receives a right to dissolve the parliament and to hold elections ahead of the schedule.

Earlier the Council of Europe's constitutional law experts, (the Venice Commission) criticized draft modifications to the constitution of Azerbaijan. Many proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of power by giving “unprecedented” powers to the President, according to the Venice Commission opinion. For example, the extension of the presidential mandate from five to seven years “cannot be justified” given the already very strong position of the President, who since 2009 can be re-elected without term limits.