Simonyan calls ex-presidents an ‘unelected trio’

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan referred to Armenia’s three former presidents as the “unelected trio,” encouraging them to accept Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s invitation for a public debate.

“They are political corpses. Neither Robert Kocharyan nor Serzh Sargsyan was ever truly elected as president. Levon Ter-Petrosyan was not elected in 1996 either. They are the unelected trio,” Simonyan said in remarks to reporters, according to Sputnik Armenia.

“I echo the Prime Minister. I often act the same way when I’m ready to slam my opponent against the wall. I do not condemn the Prime Minister’s remarks in any way; I condemn the nerve-wracking of the Armenian people,” Simonyan added.

Responding to a journalist's question about the former presidents’ offices reacting to the Prime Minister’s speech, Simonyan said, “Send that to my office secretary, she will reply to the responses from Sargsyan’s and the others’ offices. They have one way to respond: come and talk. Can any of the three presidents hold a meaningful debate with Pashinyan? We know them all very well.”

On March 26, during a parliamentary Q&A session, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recalled that the three former presidents had refused to debate him live. He accused them of placing the burden of the “capitulation they built” on his shoulders.

“That’s why I say: let’s go and talk live on air. They all say they have nothing to debate with me. Well then, sit down and shut up. I’ll slam you into the walls, and remains of your political corpses will be dragged out. Stop playing with my nerves—I’ll crush you underfoot,” Pashinyan said angrily.