YEREVAN. – Zhamanak daily interviewed Armenia’s National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Chairman, ruling Republican Party (RPA) MP, and former Justice Minister Davit Harutyunyan. 

“There is talk that the NA speaker could change following the presidential elections [to be held on February 18], and your name is circulated among the potential candidates. Are you prepared to shoulder that responsibility?   

No, I am not. I said I was not interested in that position.

But if the party still urges you, or [President and RPA leader] Serzh Sargsyan proposes?  

Well, when he urges, then we will talk.

Can we think that you are avoiding responsibility? Or, perhaps, you are thinking that you will not be able to find a common ground with the NA oligarchs?

It is not worth to seek another shade here.

And whom do you see as the next NA speaker after the elections?

To tell you the truth, I still see [serving NA Speaker] Hovik Abrahamyan. There will be no changes in the NA speaker following the presidential elections; I myself see no reason,” Zhamanak quotes.