YEREVAN. – That government representative, who is satisfied with the 35-percent poverty level in Armenia, can “pack up his belongings [and] leave this country.”  

National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker and ruling Republican Party (RPA) Press Secretary Eduard Sharmazanov made such a statement during a briefing with news reporters on Monday.

In his words, the high levels of poverty and corruption in Armenia are a cause for concern for everyone.

“[And] whether or not the government will resign is a matter for the future. Now, all of us are working to improve the situation; [albeit] slowly, but we are improving [it],” Sharmazanov added.  

To the remark that although President Serzh Sargsyan had tasked the government to secure a 7-percent growth in the GDP, the state budget draft projects solely a 4.1-percent growth, the NA vice-chair responded that Sargsyan’s instruction was a political order, an objective.  

As per the RPA spokesperson, it is indispensable to analyze all the subjective and objective reasons why the government is unable to carry out this task.