Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan’s death didn’t only strike people but also intensified tension in pre-electoral atmosphere.
Death reasons
Armenian population likes inventing legends round the accident deaths of salient persons. But this isn’t that case as the Prime Minister died of an apparent heart attack.
Andranik Margaryan’s civil funeral will take place in his Yerevan apartment, in Sayat Nova 8, on March 27 at 18. The funeral will take place in pantheon after Komitas at 15 o’clock. President Kocharyan signed an order to declare March 28 as day of mourning.
The opponents also grieve
The oppositionists also had special attitudes towards Andranik Margaryan. Or rather as Stepan Zakaryan, the secretary of PPA administration said yesterday “Nobody hated him in Armenia. Both the authority and opposition forces had good relations with the Prime Minister. This shows his humane qualities”. “National Unity” party leader Artashes Geghamyan said to “Radiolur”: “I can’t remember any case when he took a step not proper for the Armenian. Andranik Margaryan was very precious person for me.”
“Andranik Margaryan was a balanced politician, and his absence may be noticeable, – PPA leader Stepan Demirchyan noticed. Andranik Margaryan will stay in our memory as a patriot politician and respectable man who has his deserving credit in the establishment of our independence”.
NDU leader Vazgen Manukyan noted: “In our authority system Andranik Margaryan was balancing the political arena with his tolerance, and carried policy. While he was alive the authority monopoly wasn’t so obvious. Now we enter into a new condition”.
Leader of “Republic” Party Aram Sargsyan told “Noyyan Tapan” that A. Margaryan’s one of the most important characters was that he wasn’t changed as a person. In Aram Sargsyan’s words “unfortunately there are few politicians in the authority pyramid who have positive energy, certain humane qualities, tolerance and Andranik Margaryan was the first in that list”.
OSCE acting chairman, FM of Spain Miguel Anchel Moratinos hoped that the Prime Minister’s accident death wouldn’t exert influence on the political situation in Armenia before the upcoming parliamentary elections.
What will happen in the RPA?
NA chairman, RPA deputy leader Tigran Torosyan told the journalists that the party would try to be strong and finish what they have decided together. It was announced yesterday that RPA council leader Serge Sargsyan would undertake the RPA leader’s obligations. RPA faction leader Galust Sahakyan said in the RPA office yesterday that Serge Sargsyan’s political activities showed that he was “decisive and is able to give lessons for wisdom”. He also announced that the party would continue the pre-electoral campaign at the same pace. The RPA new leader will be elected in the forthcoming session, which will be held after launching the campaign.
What will happen in the government?
RA President Robert Kocharyan met with the representatives of RPA, ARF, ULP factions and “People’s deputy”, “Businessman” groups.
According to the 55th article of the Constitution the government resigns in case of the prime minister’s free position. Then the president must appoint a new prime minister within 10 days after the resignation of the government. Then a new government must be established 20 days after appointment of a new prime minister. The new government must be established till April 26.
The special sitting of the government was held yesterday, which led Robert Kocharyan. “Andranik Margaryan left us in very responsible moment, and we, as the authority, must give right solutions to get out of the current situation”, – Mr. Robert Kocharyan told the members of the government. He adopted the RA government’s resignation and ordered the members of resigned government to continue their work till the establishment of the new government.
Who will be the likely successor to Margaryan?
The sudden death of Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan has led to widespread rumors regarding his possible successor. One of them is Hovik Abrahamyan who as a rule performed prime-ministerial duties when Prime Minister Margaryan was absent in the past seven years.
It is not excluded that Robert Kocharyan may act as prime minister, as according to the constitution, he is head of the executive and formally presides over governmental meetings.