It is still not clear whether the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) will form a new governing coalition following its landslide victory in this month’s parliamentary elections, President Serzh Sarkisian said late on Thursday.
The HHK’s Executive Body was expected to clarify the situation after a late-night meeting chaired by Sarkisian. The meeting came the day after he met with Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, the HHK’s main partner in the outgoing coalition.
“We’ll see,” Sarkisian told reporters after the meeting when asked by RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) about a new power-sharing deal between his party and other major election contenders.
“It’s a political process? Why are you in a hurry? As soon as it happens we will make an announcement,” he said.
Asked whether a final decision has been made yet on the composition of his new government, the president replied, “Of course not.”
HHK sources said that Sarkisian briefed members of the Executive Body on his post-election talks with Tsarukian and other political forces. But they would not name those forces.
“There have been political consultations with different political forces in connection with post-election developments,” HHK spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “As for whether or not there will be a coalition, we will be able to talk about that after May 24.”
Asked whether Tsarukian’s BHK has agreed to remain part of the government, Sharmazanov said, “Discussions are continuing. Do not focus only on Prosperous Armenia.”
Tsarukian has not commented on his post-election plans ever since the May 6 ballot, official results of which put the BHK in second place.
The HHK’s Executive Body was expected to clarify the situation after a late-night meeting chaired by Sarkisian. The meeting came the day after he met with Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, the HHK’s main partner in the outgoing coalition.
“We’ll see,” Sarkisian told reporters after the meeting when asked by RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) about a new power-sharing deal between his party and other major election contenders.
“It’s a political process? Why are you in a hurry? As soon as it happens we will make an announcement,” he said.
Asked whether a final decision has been made yet on the composition of his new government, the president replied, “Of course not.”
HHK sources said that Sarkisian briefed members of the Executive Body on his post-election talks with Tsarukian and other political forces. But they would not name those forces.
“There have been political consultations with different political forces in connection with post-election developments,” HHK spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “As for whether or not there will be a coalition, we will be able to talk about that after May 24.”
Asked whether Tsarukian’s BHK has agreed to remain part of the government, Sharmazanov said, “Discussions are continuing. Do not focus only on Prosperous Armenia.”
Tsarukian has not commented on his post-election plans ever since the May 6 ballot, official results of which put the BHK in second place.