The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) reiterated on Friday that it will not be represented in a new government that will be formed by President Serzh Sarkisian as a result of this month’s parliamentary elections.
Naira Zohrabian, a senior party representative, said the four ministers in Sarkisian’s outgoing coalition government affiliated with the BHK will tender their resignations, along with all other cabinet members, at the opening session of Armenia’s new parliament scheduled for May 31. She insisted that the party led by businessman Gagik Tsarukian will have no posts in the new cabinet.
Hovik Abrahamian, a senior member of Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK), on Wednesday did not rule out the possibility of continued BHK presence in the executive branch. He also said that the BHK will not be in opposition to Armenia’s political leadership not least because its senior lawmakers will chair four standing committees of the newly elected parliament.
Zohrabian dismissed this argument, however. “The committee posts have nothing to do with being or not being part of the coalition,” she told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
Zohrabian argued that members of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation headed two such committees in the last National Assembly. At the same time, she stopped short of explicitly describing Tsarukian’s party as an opposition group. She said only that it will be acting in a “highly constructive” manner.
“At the heart of our activities will be one aim: the people’s interest and well-being,” Zohrabian said. “If there are initiatives and if we see that they are in tune with our programs and goals and issues facing the country, we will welcome and join them no matter which political force will come up with them.”
The BHK finished second in the May 6 elections. Tsarukian announced on Wednesday that it will not strike a new power-sharing accord with Sarkisian’s HHK.
Naira Zohrabian, a senior party representative, said the four ministers in Sarkisian’s outgoing coalition government affiliated with the BHK will tender their resignations, along with all other cabinet members, at the opening session of Armenia’s new parliament scheduled for May 31. She insisted that the party led by businessman Gagik Tsarukian will have no posts in the new cabinet.
Hovik Abrahamian, a senior member of Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK), on Wednesday did not rule out the possibility of continued BHK presence in the executive branch. He also said that the BHK will not be in opposition to Armenia’s political leadership not least because its senior lawmakers will chair four standing committees of the newly elected parliament.
Zohrabian dismissed this argument, however. “The committee posts have nothing to do with being or not being part of the coalition,” she told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
Zohrabian argued that members of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation headed two such committees in the last National Assembly. At the same time, she stopped short of explicitly describing Tsarukian’s party as an opposition group. She said only that it will be acting in a “highly constructive” manner.
“At the heart of our activities will be one aim: the people’s interest and well-being,” Zohrabian said. “If there are initiatives and if we see that they are in tune with our programs and goals and issues facing the country, we will welcome and join them no matter which political force will come up with them.”
The BHK finished second in the May 6 elections. Tsarukian announced on Wednesday that it will not strike a new power-sharing accord with Sarkisian’s HHK.