YEREVAN. – A new political situation has developed in Armenia, but it seems not everyone is aware, National Assembly (NA) Vice-Speaker, ruling Republican Party (RPA) Spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters on Wednesday. 

In Sharmazanov’s words, President Serzh Sargsyan’s recent announcement, according to which he will not “take helm” for a third term, was a declaration on the new rules of the game which, however, is not yet fully understood.

According to the NA vice-chair, Armenian politics is transitioning to a network-horizontal model of governance which, as per Sharmazanov, will lessen one person’s role in the hierarchy of state governance and increase the role of the political parties.   

The RPA spokesperson also said it is apparent that RPA will continue to be the leader in Armenian politics for approximately at least the next ten years.

“But what is the most remarkable aspect of the moment? It is Serzh Sargsyan’s self-exclusion, which means the [playing] field is open and competitive. But, first and foremost, this competition is inside the Republican [Party],” Eduard Sharmazanov specifically noted.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am