YEREVAN. – There will be decisions that may be unexpected to many, non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party National Assembly (PAP NA) Faction member Vahan Babayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.
“In the coming days, the society will see that the PAP faction and party will continue its activity as normal,” Babayan said. “The PAP has things to do and, at any rate, it will give the answers to the issues of concern to society in the coming days.”
To our query as to precisely for whom will these decisions be “unexpected,” the PAP MP responded: “The pressing issue in politics is our voters. And I believe that the PAP, being the second [largest] political force in Armenia, shall have things to say to its voter, and it needs to be consistent also within the framework of the implementation of its election program.”
As reported earlier, speaking at the February 12 meeting of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Board, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also chairman of the RPA Board, had stated that PAP Chairman, MP and oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan had become a vice for the country as a political player. He also relieved the PAP leader from his status as a National Security Council (NSC) member, and promised that a process will begin in connection with Tsarukyan’s frequent absence from the parliament sessions.
In response to President Sargsyan’s remarks, Gagik Tsarukyan issued a statement, on February 13, that the incumbent authorities must be removed from power immediately. Reflecting on Sargsyan having him removed from the NSC, the PAP leader noted that he had not left this council earlier solely because of the President’s personal request. As for the plans to strip him of his parliamentary mandate, Tsarukyan said the important thing for him is the trust of the Armenian citizens, and therefore he possesses the most important mandate. In addition, the Prosperous Armenia Party chairman urged to achieve Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation, but by way of lawful political methods.
To this day, however, the PAP has not made any statement with respect to its future courses of action. Solely, PAP NA Faction Secretary Naira Zohrabyan announced, on Monday in the parliament, that their faction will be boycotting the four-day session of the National Assembly.
