YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan doesn’t accept opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan’s proposal on the election format of the people’s candidate, reports Armenpress.

“I don’t know any country where people’s candidate is elected in that way, there are elections for that purpose. Now for one citizen someone is acceptable, and for the other another figure is acceptable, so what to do? The people’s candidate is not being elected in this way. I propose to hold snap parliamentary elections, and if he is the people’s candidate, he will come [to power]”, the acting PM said.

He said it would be better for the political forces to meet and discuss the current situation, and for this purpose a platform is being proposed.

“We have developed laws, Constitution, we cannot get out of this field. It’s not so that everything is being done by the will, dictation of one political force, everyone must sit and decide how to hold snap elections. The laws say so, the people’s candidate is being elected by elections, the choice is the election, if you know a country that is being elected in another way, please tell me”, the acting PM said, adding that it is maximally necessary to return to normal life.

On April 23, at 16:00, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned as widespread protests entered the 11th day.  On the same day, as required by law, the government resigned.

First Deputy PM Karen Karapetyan was named acting PM at an emergency Cabinet meeting.

Later it was announced that Mr. Karapetyan will have a meeting with Mr. Pashinyan – leader of the opposition – on April 25. But around midnight of April 24, the government said that the meeting has been cancelled because the opposition leader unilaterally made new demands. Acting PM Karen Karapetyan addressed the President to organize a meeting in a format of his preference, with participation of a wide spectrum of political parties within and outside the parliament.

On April 24 MP Pashinyan told foreign media outlets that the people’s candidate will be decided at the Republic Square. The name of the candidate will be announced, and the candidate will determined by the reaction of the people.

English translator/editor – Aneta Harutyunyan