YEREVAN. – The opposition Armenian National Movement (ANM) party will soon issue its official position with respect to the opposition bloc Armenian National Congress’ (ANC) decision to dissolve and become a single political party. Armenian National Assembly’s ANC Faction MP, ANM Board Chairman Aram Manukyan stated this during a briefing with news reporters, and added that he shares the views of ANC leader, First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan.      

To the query as to whether ANM will dissolve as a result of the aforesaid decision, he responded: “No, not at all. The fact of ANC becoming a party does not at all force ANM to dissolve.”

In his turn, Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan informed that, aside from dissolution, the methods of reorganization and merger likewise exist. Manukyan, too, noted that, pursuant to the law, a political party may reorganize, or reunite. 

He further informed that he would nominate Ter-Petrosyan’s candidacy to the post of the leader of the new party, but he cannot say who actually will lead it because there is no party as of yet.  

In the ANM leader’s words, ANC’s becoming a political party is a response to the new situation that will be created following the presidential election on February 18. 

“ANM favors this move, but we do not [yet] have a formal position. We will convene a board session, in the coming days, and have a response,” the ANM Board chairman said.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, First President, opposition bloc Armenian National Congress leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan gave an interview to a daily, during which he stated that the Congress can no longer be maintained in the same format and structure as it was over the course of the past five years.  

“I believe the time has come for the Congress to transform into a single party. I also wish to inform that the discussions with respect to implementing this idea are already underway within the framework of the [political] forces that have remained committed to the Congress,” Ter-Petrosyan had added.    

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am