No plans for snap elections, says parliament majority leader

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The ruling Civil Contract party has no plans for calling snap election, the party’s parliamentary faction leader Hayk Konjoryan told reporters on Monday.

“We don’t have plans for parliamentary snap elections. The snap elections took place in 2021, and the Armenian people expressed their will as a result of these elections. The next election is in 2026, and until then we must implement the mandate given to us by the people,” Konjoryan said at a press briefing. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a statement issued on Monday, said he asked several high-ranking officials to resign.

Officials who have so far resigned are Minister of Internal Affairs Vahe Ghazaryan, Anti-Corruption Committee Chairman Sasun Khachatryan, Supreme Judicial Council President Karen Andreasyan, Chairman of the Investigative Committee Argishti Kyaramyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan and State Revenue Committee Chairman Rustam Badasyan.

During last week’s Cabinet meeting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan strongly criticized Armenia’s judicial and law-enforcement bodies for failing to end a perceived lack of justice in the country.

Opposition MPs claimed the sackings are an attempt by the incumbent government to develop a new image ahead of the next elections. Parliament majority leader Hayk Konjoryan from the ruling Civil Contract party denied these claims. He said the changes are part of systemic changes and have nothing to do with image change or internal political processes.