Еx-ambassador: focus should be on ousting Pashinyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Armenian Ambassador to Poland Edgar Ghazaryan commented on the nomination of Bright Armenia party leader Edmon Marukyan as an alternative candidate in the no-confidence initiative against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Ghazaryan stated that the move “fully aligns with the logic of the initiative,” according to a statement cited by Pastinfo.

He recalled previously urging parliament members to take the lead in initiating a no-confidence vote.

Ghazaryan emphasized that the decision on a preferred candidate rests solely with the deputies driving the initiative. “If Aghazaryan and Aslanyan have nominated Marukyan, it doesn’t mean other MPs can’t launch their own initiatives with different candidates,” he said, adding that various candidates can be proposed simultaneously, encouraging broader political discussions and potential consensus.

He noted that his team had not discussed any candidate options themselves, since only MPs can formally propose names.

Commenting on Marukyan’s earlier claim that the process can start with 38 signatures, Ghazaryan dismissed it as unserious. “They should aim for 54, even 60 signatures to ensure the session is held and the vote has real prospects,” he stated.

Addressing Marukyan’s past collaboration with Pashinyan and concerns it might raise, Ghazaryan noted that many figures currently in the opposition have also worked with Pashinyan. “That’s irrelevant to me. What matters is expressing no confidence in Pashinyan,” he concluded.

In a recent Facebook live, Edmon Marukyan—nominated by former Civil Contract members Hovik Aghazaryan and Hakob Aslanyan—argued that now is a real opportunity to launch a no-confidence effort and urged opposition blocs Armenia and I Have Honor to join. He also proposed meeting with them to discuss joint actions.