Armenia’s ruling party considering appointment of ex- mayor as premier

YEREVAN, February 26. /ARKA/. The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) has started discussing possible change of the premier; the alleged candidate for PM’s post is the former mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan who is currently vice-president of Russian Gasprombank, Zhoghovurd (People) daily reported.

Referring to its sources in the Republican Party, the newspaper says that is why Karapetyan was back from Moscow to Yerevan and had several meeting with the party’s reps a couple of days ago.

However, the party has not made any decision on the matter yet, according to the newspaper. 

The head of RPA parliament faction Galust Sahakyan refuted the allegations of a discussion about PM post.

“We are not discussing such an issue”, Sahakyan said as quoted by Zhoghovurd daily. The newspaper reminds that Sahakyan kept saying the same about resignations in the cabinet, but they happened.

Governor of Shirak region Ashot Giziryan resigned from the post Friday. Apart from this, deputy-head of RPA Armen Ashotyan reported on expected resignation of mayor of Vanadzor Samvel Darbinyan.

Under the Armenian constitution, the president is to accept the government’s resignation on the inauguration day (50 days after the election). The president is to appoint a new premier enjoying the majority confidence in the parliament within 10 days after accepting the resignation. And finally, the government is formed within 20 days after the appointment of the premier. 

According to the official final outcome of the February 18 presidential vote, Serzh Sargsyan won re-election with 861,373 votes or 58.64%. His main opposition challenger second-placed Raffi Hovannisian polled 36.74% or 539,693 votes.  -0-