RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s resignation gives rise to various interpretations. On one hand, this resignation is linked to the existing tense situation in the country, particularly, agreeing on the process of expressing non-confidence by the four non-government forces to the Government, recognizing controversial provisions of the law on “Funded Pensions” anti-constitutional, on the other hand, as a consequence of the Prime Minister’s resignation, it is considered that the process of Armenian accession to the Customs Union will be either suspended or extended.
To the question of Aravot.am whether the Prime Minister’s resignation was expected, the former presidential candidate Andreas Ghukasyan responded as follows, “Yes, it was expected. It became directly visible after the Constitutional Court’s decision. That meant that Tigran Sargsyan should submit a resignation. According to Serzh Sargsyan, he was not stupid when going to the Yerkrapah Congress and expressing confidence that the Constitutional Court would recognize the law in compliance with the Constitution. We see that the authorities have the impression that before the Kessab events, the law was in conformity to the Constitution, and the situation changed after Kessab, and when the Constitutional Court’s decision is published. This provided grounds to say that the government needs to be changed. It was necessary to suspend the Customs Union accession process. Now, it is already suspended because as per the Constitution the period required before formation of the new government makes fifty days. The prime minister shall be appointed within ten days, the Government shall be appointed within twenty days, and the Government shall submit its program within twenty days. In other words, an objective state of affairs occurred for Serzh Sargsyan to suspend the process of accession to the Customs Union.”
With regard to suspension of the Customs Union, publicist and politicians Gurgen Yeghiazaryan is of a different view. To our question of whether the Customs Union accession process will be suspended with the Prime Minister’s resignation, Mr. Yeghiazaryan responded, “Of course not, because, as you know, Tigran Sargsyan was not one of the advocates of Russian friendship and participation. Do you remember his phrase that we are not mentally ill to become a member of the Customs Union without having a border?”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
