Gyumri mayor quits Prosperous Armenia party

«Taking into consideration Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan's decision to leave political arena, I no longer see obligations toward the party,» he was quoted by media resources as saying in his statement. 

At the same time, Balasanyan expressed willingness to cooperate with Prosperous Armenia and other political parties to solve the problems accumulated in the city. 

Armenian MP Naira Zohrabyan was elected today as new head of the Prosperous Armenia party after its founder and former chairman Gagik Tsarukyan stepped down. 

Zohrabyan was elected actually unanimously by the party's emergency convention. Only one delegate voted against. 

Zohrabyan's candidacy was proposed by Gagik Tsarukyan. 

In February, tension in relations between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik Tsarukyan escalated. Speaking on February 12 at a meeting of the executive board of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, President Sargsyan lashed out at his former coalition partner describing him as ‘a scourge for the country who lacks intelligence, skills and education to govern Armenia.’ 

Sargsyan told Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan to instruct corresponding bodies to thoroughly investigate the veracity of “unverified reports” implicating Tsarukyan in large-scale tax evasion. 

In retaliation to Sargsyan’s crackdown, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party said the following day that the current situation in the country requires solution and 'the only solution is a complete change of power through extraordinary presidential elections.' Gagik Tsarukyan said also he was offered the post of president of the country but only after constitutional reforms that would turn Armenia into a parliamentary republic. 

He claimed that the reform is aimed at enabling Sargsyan to stay in power after the end of his second and final presidential term in 2018. 

Tsarukyan said he declined the offer causing Sargsyan’s anger. 

Prosperous Armenia, Heritage party and the Armenian National Congress decided to stage a joint rally on February 20, but a little later the rally was canceled and Tsarukyan called on people to solve all their problems by peaceful means. 

Prosperous Armenia is the second largest force in the parliament controlling 36 of 131 parliamentary seats. 

It was part of coalition governments from 2007 to 2012. According to some estimates, Tsarukyan is the third-richest person of Armenia. --0----