Armenia ruling party to support election of PM, assures spokesperson

Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of Parliament and spokesperson of the ruling Republican Party (HHK), says that the HHK will support the election of a Prime Minister.

The HHK spokesperson assured that the necessary 53 votes for electing a Prime Minister will be ensured for electing the candidate nominated by 1/3rd of the parliament.

“The HHK will support the election of Prime Minister. How, with what quantity, I don’t think it is important. What’s important is that the necessary 53 votes will be ensured and the person having the signatures of 1/3 will become Prime Minister,” he said.

Asked why the ruling party blocked the election on May 1 and a day later it decided not to nominate a candidate for the second round, Sharmazanov said the HHK faction found it appropriate at that moment.

“Regarding my stance, it hasn’t changed. I have expressed my stance during the May 1 debates, and I maintain the same opinion, but this doesn’t mean that there can’t be other opinions. During my entire career I have been in favor of pluralism and dissent. Our vote on May 1 has been absolutely political, and we expressed our political stance,” he said.

Sharmazanov also commented on the probability of snap elections.

He said that there are certain procedures in place for early elections. “The Constitution clearly stipulates when early elections can be held. If we elect a Prime Minister on May 8, and I am nearly 100% sure that we will have a Prime Minister, then we can’t go for early elections. If the Prime Minister brings the government program and this program gets approved, in this case again early elections can’t be held. They are bringing an issue of amending the Electoral Code to the agenda, while this isn’t an issue of discussing in a hurry. We must sit down and discuss. The electoral code is a constitutional law, which requires 3/5 of lawmakers’ votes for amendments. Debates will take place. Everything must be done according to the schedule,” he said.