Speaker: Armenia needs a multiparty system and opposition loyal to the country

The authorities want a multiparty democratic system to take shape in Armenia and the opposition to be loyal to the Republic of Armenia, Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan has said, commenting on a recent statement by PM Nikol Pashinyan on the need for a “state-centered opposition”.

The Speaker said the authorities do not want Civil Contract to be Armenia’s only political force.

“On the contrary, we want a multiparty democratic system to take shape,” Rubinyan said at a press briefing.

The opposition may harshly criticize the authorities and seek a change of government, but it must remain loyal to the country, he emphasized.

“We want an opposition that is loyal to Armenia. They may hate us, consider us the worst in the world, and want to come to power. One day they will come to power, of course; we will not be in power forever,” the Speaker of Parliament said.

Addressing the formation of the opposition landscape, Rubinyan noted that following the 2018 revolution, this space had largely been occupied by representatives of the former authorities.

He criticized forces driven by a desire to protect illegally acquired wealth or by the interests of foreign power centers.

Rubinyan stressed that the Republic of Armenia must be the sole recipient of the opposition’s loyalty.