Vartan Oskanian renounces his parliamentary seat
04.03.2015,
17:01
Mikael Melkumyan, an MP from the Prosperous Armenia Party, has confirmed today rumors that another member of the party, former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, has filed a formal application to the leadership of the National Assembly renouncing his parliamentary seat.
YEREVAN, March 4. / ARKA /.Mikael Melkumyan, an MP from the Prosperous Armenia Party, has confirmed today rumors that another member of the party, former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, has filed a formal application to the leadership of the National Assembly renouncing his parliamentary seat.
Melkumyan said to the best of his knowledge Oskanian is going only to renounce his parliamentary seat and is not going to quit the party ranks.
“I think Oskanian’s decision suggests he wants to rethink the nature of his future activities,” Melkumyan said.
Oskanian’s decision was preceded by defection of seven lawmakers from the Prosperous Armenia.
The party had the second largest parliamentary faction comprising 36 members before President Serzh Sargsyan lashed out at Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan on January 12.
President Sargsyan signed a decree expelling Gagik Tsarukyan from the National Security Council and also ordered authorities to investigate Tsarukyan, one of Armenia's richest men, for alleged tax-dodging and failure to attend parliament sessions.
Tsarukyan, in turn, accused Sargsyan of trying to punish him over his refusal to back a constitutional reform that would allow Sargsyan to remain Armenia's leader beyond 2018 when his current presidential term ends. -0-
