RA NA ex-speaker: “Tsarukyan never asked President to appoint me as PM”

PanARMENIAN.Net - The head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) election headquarters, parliament ex-speaker Hovik Abrahamyan refuted media reports suggesting Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan (who’s related to Abrahamyan) addressed President Sargsyan with a request to appoint him as Prime Minister or parliament speaker.

“I have enough authority with the party to do without such requests. I’d refuse were I to receive such an offer,” Abrahamyan said.

He also denied having been present at May 23 Sargsyan-Tsarukyan meeting.

Prosperous Armenia issued a statement, which said the party doesn’t consider involvement in coalition government formation a reasonable step.

“We maintained a common position throughout the whole election campaign. I have repeatedly stated that I pursue no personal goals other than political. Moreover, I reiterate readiness to suffer a loss to retain public trust,” Gagik Tsarukyan stated.

According to polling results, Prosperous Armenia garnered about half a million votes. These people voted for our party, out of faith in us and the demand for tangible changes in the country’s social and economic life. Given the election outcomes, Prosperous Armenia has no constitutional possibility to participate in government formation and implement its programs. Thus, I declare that our party doesn’t deem participation in coalition formation reasonable,” the statement by party leader read.