YEREVAN. – Armenian National Assembly (NA) Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan will announce his resignation on Monday. Once left this office, Abrahamyan will head the ruling coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Campaign Headquarters, to prepare for the 2012 parliamentary elections. And this was the reason for Abrahamyan’s unexpected decision to that effect, which he made public on November 1.  

To note, within five days after NA Speaker’s announcement of his resignation, the latter must be approved, after which elections are held for a new speaker. But there will not be an intense campaigning for this post because 5-6 months have left for the parliamentary elections, and therefore this office does not pose an interest.   

According to the press, however, the likely contenders are the current Deputy Speaker, Samvel Nikoyan, and RPA Parliamentary Faction leader, Galust Sahakyan.