By Karine Kalantarian
A senior Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) member holding a ministerial post told of his desire to return to big politics while talking to the media on Tuesday. Yet, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Aghvan Vartanian, who ostensibly got his ministerial portfolio as a reward for his work as campaign manager to ensure President Robert Kocharian’s reelection in 2003, left unanswered a journalist’s questions about the circulating reports tipping him as Kocharian’s successor.
But to RFE/RL’s question as to whether he wanted to engage in active politics, Vartanian said: “To be frank, a sincere desire to reengage in active politics arises sometimes when you meet certain populism in the National Assembly. Our country is going through crucial stages now – a constitutional referendum followed by parliamentary and presidential elections. I think the years to come will put everything in its place.”
Vartanian added that he would certainly take an active part in these events.
In particular, asked whether he would be actively campaigning for ‘Yes’ to the constitutional amendments only among his fellow government members, Vartanian replied: “Not among government members, but throughout the country!”