YEREVAN. – According to highly reliable sources, the initial decision, according to which Armenia Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan will be the authorities’ candidate in the 2018 presidential election, is getting stronger and becoming serious, Haykakan Zhamanak daily reported.

“After the 2017 parliamentary elections, they are planning to appoint [him] Prime Minister. 

“And following the presidential elections, [incumbent] President Serzh Sargsyan sees himself in the PM’s post. After the expected constitutional changes, this PM will have the broadest powers, and he will be the first ‘face’ of the country in terms of functions and leverage.      

“And they see [serving] Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan in the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

“At any rate, this is the current plan of the authorities, Haykakan Zhamanak wrote.