BREAKING NEWS: Republican Party faction MP escorted away by national security agents in Ejmiatsin

June 16, 2018 By administrator

Republican Party faction MP

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, Member of Parliament from the Republican Party faction Manvel Grigoryan, the chairman of the Yerkrapah Volunteers Union, has been escorted out from the union’s office in Ejmiatsin city (Vagharshapat) by national security service (NSS) agents.

Grigoryan exited the building escorted by NSS agents and left the area in a vehicle. Fellow MP from the same faction Seyran Saroyan was also with Grigoryan. Saroyan initially wanted to go with Grigoryan in the same car, but agents didn’t allow it.

One of the NSS agents told Saroyan to ride along in another vehicle.

When the vehicle carrying Grigoryan was about to leave, a woman was attempting to block its way by standing in front of it. The NSS agents pulled her away and the vehicle left the area.

An NSS spokesperson refused to specify where the two MPs were taken. “We will issue a statement within the day with a clarification”, spokesperson Samson Galstyan said.

Breaking: Republican party ready to support the PM candidate nominated by the1/3 of the total number of deputies

May 2, 2018 By administrator

The Republican Party of Armenia that holds simple majority in Armenia’s parliament has announced a decision to support any candidate for the post of the country’s Prime Minister that is nominated by the 1/3 of the total number deputies in parliament.

The announcement was read by the Head of the Republican Party fraction at National Assembly Vahram Baghdasaryn following the fraction closed-door session held today.

The statement by the Republican Party also notes the fraction has no plans to nominate its own candidate for the post.

The decision theoretically enables the parliament to elect the leader of opposition Nikol Pashinyan as Armenia’s new PM during the second round of the vote set on May 8, considering all other 3 fractions represented in the legislative body earlier supported Pashinyan’s candidacy.
If the Parliament fails to elect a PM for the second time, the parliament is dissolved automatically and snap elections to the National Assembly are announced.

Pashinyan: No member of Republican Party of Armenia can become state’s PM

April 24, 2018 By administrator

Nikol Pashinyan

YEREVAN.- No member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) can become the Prime Minister of the country, the leader of Civil Contract Party, MP Nikol Pashinyan stated at a press conference with foreign journalists on Tuesday.

According to him, ex-PM Serzh Sargsyan said that force, that gained 7% in the election can not win.

“Now Armenians joke that 7% is more than 93%. Our movement was supported by 90% of the population of Armenia, as well as support for the diaspora. The candidate of RPA won’t be nominated for the prime minister’s post. The era of RPA rule ended in Armenia. In Armenia the era of board of RPA has ended. Attempts to revive this force won’t be crowned with success,” Pashinyan said.

Asked about his nomination for the PM’s post, Pashinyan said: “If the people put such responsibility on me, I will not refuse. I think it will be so. We must ensure free elections in Armenia. The political crisis began at the time when people totally stopped trusting elections. The first thing we need to do is reform the election code.”

To the question whether there was any guarantee that the RPA will not head the government, he replied: “The RPA does not exist, only its ghost remains. I do not need any guarantees from the RPA. We have a stronger guarantee, a guarantee of the people and the Diaspora. I do not see any force that can resist the people of Armenia. ”

Asked whether Karen Karapetyan’s nomination is possible if he leaves the Republican Party, Pashinyan replied: “No!”

Armenian President’s Republican Party Signs Coalition Deal With ARF

May 12, 2017 By administrator

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party won 58 of the 105 seats in parliamentary elections on April 2.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian’s ruling Republican Party (HHK) has signed a coalition agreement with the smaller Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), a party official told reporters on May 11.

Sarkisian’s Republican Party won 58 of the 105 seats in parliamentary elections on April 2, surpassing the 50 percent level, but the coalition agreement was nevertheless important to the HHK’s ability to form a government.

Legislative rules require a three-fifths majority to win approval for appointments such as Constitutional Court judges, the general prosecutor, chairman of the appeals court, central bank chairman, and election officials.

In addition, the passing of important laws, such as the electoral and judicial codes, laws on holding referendums, and legislation related to the Constitutional Court also require the approval of three-fifths of the parliament.

With the addition of seven seats from the ARF, it will surpass the three-fifths level of 63 seats by two.

“We have a number of similarities in our value systems…that will determine the cooperation between two national parties during the coming five years,” said Armen Ashotyan, vice chairman of the Republican Party.

The Republican Party won 49.15 percent of the April 2 vote, with the center-right Tsarukian Alliance, led by Russia-friendly tycoon Gagik Tsarukian, winning 27.37 percent.

The nationalist ARF, which was part of the previous ruling coalition with the Republicans, won about 6.57 percent of the April 2 vote.

Some international observers said the voting process was “tainted” by reports of vote-buying and pressure on voters.

In the previous coalition agreement, the ARF had three ministerial posts — economy, education, and local administration.

The terms of the new coalition deal were not immediately announced.

In the past, the ARF, also known as Dashnaktsutiun, has antagonized neighboring Turkey by making territorial claims.

Armenia and Turkey have clashed over Armenian demands that Turkey take responsibility for the mass killing and deportation of some 1.5 million Armenians during World War I by the Ottoman Empire.

The atrocities suffered by the Armenians have been classed as genocide by Yerevan and more than a dozen states.

Although Turkey admits many Christian Armenians were killed in clashes with Ottoman forces, it denies the killings were orchestrated and constituted a genocide.