Armenian opposition leader vows not to have oligarchs in his government

YEREVAN, May 7. /ARKA/. Armenian opposition leader, Nikol Pashinyan, set to become the country’s next prime minister, said today he would not have oligarchs in the new government.

"If I am elected prime minister tomorrow (on May 8), I can assure that there will be no businessmen and oligarchs in the new government,» Pashinyan told journalists after consultations with the head of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of Armenia  Vahram Baghdasaryan.

As for the composition of the new government, he said discussions will be held with parliament-represented forces, and most likely also with the Republican Party of Armenia. He said the ‘collective ‘face of the government should reflect the spirit that is present in Armenia today.

He also said in his speech to parliament tomorrow he will present the basic rules of the game, which "will be simple and clear to all – everything must be done within the law."

He noted that his government’s plan of actions will be discussed with the Republican Party of Armenia and that he expects an agreement to be reached by the sides that the voting on it  is not be failed.

As for the calls for the resignation of the mayor of Yerevan, which appeared in social networks,  according to Pashinyan, he is being now focused on the election of prime minister and the formation of new government, for which specific time frames are provided for.

"We are working on elections, I am not aware of these processes, but I will present my position after the parliamentary elections," he said. 

Weeks of antigovernment protests led by Pashinyan forced two-time former president Serzh Sargsyan to resign as prime minister just days after he was elected to the position by the parliament, controlled by his Republican Party of Armenia.

Pashinyan, nominated by the opposition parliamentary bloc Yelk for the post of prime minister, secured the backing of 41 lawmakers in the 105-seat parliament, not enough to win the vote. To date he is the only candidate for the post in a repeat vote on May 8.

The Republican Party that thwarted Pashinyan’s first attempt to become prime minister said later it would not nominate its candidate for the post and would support Pashinyan’s candidacy. -0-