Will Karen Karapetyan comply with the claim of 5-year permanent residence in Armenia?

“If RPA has the possibility to form the Government after the elections, that Government will head Karen Karapetyan after the elections as well. From legal point of view this can’t be problematic, as president of Armenia said that RPA candidate will be Karen Karapetyan, if possibility is provided in Parliamentary elections in April,” Arpine Hovhannisyna, RA Minster of Justice, told at today’s briefing.

To the question whether it won’t be an issue, as Karen Karapetyan seems not to have 5-year permanent residence in Armenia, A.Hovhannisyan replied that “seems” was a proper word. In her words, after 2017 Parliamentary elections the majority will nominate its candidate for the Prime Minister, after 2018, when the term of incumbent president is over, Parliamentary governance will appear with all its palette, which means, that the Parliamentary majority, no matter who that might be, what representation he/she might have, again will develop his/her own Government.

The Minister clarified, “you shouldn’t be elected an MP, but become a candidate,” there are certain eligibility demands on involvement in the other list, which after submitting the list, will be assessed by the competent state authority.

To the clarifying question, whether it’s not mandatory that the candidate for the PM headed the list, A.Hovhannisyan replied, ”The party will decide on the list to be submitted and will introduce the candidate for the Prime Minister by the gained votes.”

By Gayane Khachatryan