Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan expects Tsarukyan bloc, ARF to present stance publicly on PM candidate

Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan says he doesn’t know yet how the Tsarukyan and ARF factions of the parliament will vote in the upcoming election of a Prime Minister due on May 1.

During a press conference on April 27, Pashinyan expressed hope that the Tsarukyan alliance and the ARF will publicly present their stance until May 1.

“They haven’t specified their stance now, and I expect that Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] and the Tsarukyan alliance will express their stance publicly,” Pashinyan said.

To a reporter’s argument that even in the event of having the support of Tsarukyan alliance and the ARF they will still need votes from HHK (ruling party) lawmakers, Pashinyan said: “I think it makes sense for the phone numbers of all lawmakers to be made public, and for citizens to try to contact their lawmakers and present their stance”.

Commenting on rumors that former President Robert Kocharyan might be nominated for Prime Minister, Pashinyan said he treats the rumors as unserious chatter.

He mentioned that the comparisons of the developments in Armenia with the Ukrainian maidan are simply a result of misunderstanding. Pashinyan says he thinks this is so obvious that there is even no sense in talking about it.

“This process took place entirely before your eyes. Even our financial resources are being presented transparently. Everyone has the opportunity to check our contacts, our financial sources. This is a clear, 100% Armenian process. Not a single dime has been invested here from a foreign organization or state,” he said.