Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke to reporters about the snap parliamentary elections and said that he’s getting ready to meet with Gagik Tsarukyan to discuss scenarios and to hold elections in December.
Aravot.am asked what changed and why did he quicken the process towards holding snap elections. Pashinyan answered, “Everything happened before your eyes. Political processes took place where a question was placed before the people and the people gave their answer. As for those people who think that the Yerevan mayoral elections weren’t the way to answer that question- do they want us to make another plea to the people and have them answer that?”
When asked if he thinks his ratings will decrease if the elections are held later, Pashinyan ordered reporters to open and read analysts’ predictions for May that Nikol’s ratings will drop in 5 months if elections aren’t held quickly. “A survey took place five days ago and it became clear that the people’s trust in our country’s leadership is at an unprecedented high level.”
We also asked if PACE rapporteurs are upset that Armenia is in a hurry to hold snap elections. The prime minister said, “I constantly speak with our foreign colleagues and have not yet heard any complaints. When I do hear any, I think that we will have proper arguments to fix things. Let me tell our RPA members of parliament that our delegation to PACE doesn’t bring us honor since they’re trying to make things in Armenia seem bad. This is yet another reason why Armenia needs to hold snap elections. Our delegation to PACE doesn’t represent anyone; it represents the formerly corrupt system. When the co-rapporteurs come to Armenia, we won’t have the need to tell them much. We’ll tell them to go out on the streets, speak with people, reporters, and NGOs. They have to monitor the situation, so let them come and monitor everything in Armenia.”
Hripsime Jebejyan
