Aghazaryan says Marukyan could become PM for one year

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former ruling party MP says Marukyan's short-term premiership could have eased four years of political struggle for the opposition.

Hovik Aghazaryan, a lawmaker removed from the ruling Civil Contract party, stated that had the opposition supported Edmon Marukyan, leader of the Bright Armenia party, in an impeachment initiative, Marukyan would have become prime minister for one year. According to Aghazaryan, this could have partially fulfilled the opposition's long-standing aspirations.

“The prime minister would have stepped down, and someone else would be appointed for a year — that opportunity exists now,” he told reporters, as cited by Aysor.am .

Aghazaryan added that this one-year period would have allowed Nikol Pashinyan to rest, while Marukyan and the opposition, capable of forming a cohesive team, would present clear programs to the electorate. In 2028, citizens would then vote based on those programs.

“We would have had a historic opportunity to conduct the fairest elections ever. Why? Because we would have Edmon Marukyan as prime minister, a Civil Contract parliamentary majority, and the Armenia and I Have Honor alliances in parliament, along with Vahagn Hovakimyan as the Central Electoral Commission head. No single actor could have interfered with the electoral process. It was a beautiful prospect we lost,” said the former MP.

He believes that given Armenia’s critical situation, the opposition should reconsider its stance and join the initiative, though he stressed that they would not make overtures to the opposition.

Aghazaryan also revealed that a “Plan B” alternative strategy has been developed, but its contents have not yet been disclosed.

MPs Hovik Aghazaryan and Hakob Aslanyan, who left the Civil Contract faction, have founded the MASK party and nominated Edmon Marukyan for the post of prime minister.

However, the “I Have Honor” parliamentary group has announced it will not support Marukyan’s candidacy, stating it opposes replacing Nikol Pashinyan with “Nikol Pashinyan 2.” The group sees no need to meet with the candidate but notes that nominating MPs can request further clarification.