The leader of Bright Armenia parliamentary faction Edmon Marukyan held a meeting on Tuesday with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, during which he presented the position of his political force on the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.
"We suggested the prime minister to resign, and the parliament to elect a new prime minister, a new interim government to be formed out of the political forces which have a consensus over the candidate to the post of the prime minister. We are for candidates for ministerial posts who have succeeded in their respective fields. The primary aim of this should be stabilizing the inter-political situation in the country and prepare for snap parliamentary elections," Marukyan told reporters, when asked to comment on the results of the meeting with the PM. In the words of the leader of Bright Armenia, constitutional changes ahead of elections were another acceptable option for them.
"The prime minister suggested to stay in his post and go to snap elections with him in power. We oppose that option and reaffirmed our position during the meeting. I presented our approach, the prime minister – his," Marukyan said, adding: "The crisis continues. Without us – Bright Armenia and Prosperous Armenia parties — the parliament cannot be dissolved. In other words, if we are not in this process [dissolution of parliament], it will not happen. This means that when the prime minister resigns I can be nominated as a candidate for the post of the prime minister, elected, and the parliament will not be dissolved. The agreement has not been reached, and the parliament will not be dissolved," concluded Marukyan.
To note, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced days ago readiness to hold snap parliamentary elections in 2021 to resolve the political crisis in Armenia and expressed an intention to hold political consultations with parliamentary and extra-parliamentary political forces for that purpose.
Earlier, the PM met with the leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan. After the meeting the latter announced that their position has not changed, pointing to the need for Pashinyan's resignation and having an interim prime minister before going to elections.