Referring to widely circulating rumors that Kocharian intends to make a political comeback, Tovmasyan said, “If you are ready to return to politics, then you must openly state it. State your intentions and put a stop to this way of doing things.”
ARF MP Armen Roustamyan today told reporters that Armenia needs comprehensive system-wide reforms that can only be achieved with regime change.
According to an ARF MP Artzvik Minasyan, newly appointed Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan gave assurances that the ‘mandatory’ component of the pension system that has led to street protests in Yerevan and elsewhere would be temporarily halted.
Opponents of the current pension system had taken up positions near the presidential office when Abrahamyan approached and proposed that all parties sit around a table to discuss the matter.
“Fine, they left the coalition. But it’s not like anything has changed. I can come out and announce that I’m the Sultan of Brunei; so what?” Martirosyan said.
It seems that the Prosperous Armenia party, which has already announced that it will not be entering into a coalition with the new government now being formed, has yet to discuss its stance regarding the Rule of Law party, which announced yesterday that it would be pulling out of the coalition.
While the Prosperous Armenia party has officially stated that it will not be entering into a coalition with the ruling Republican Party, the ARF has left the door open to such a move, announcing that it will do so only if the new government accepts its seven point plan.
When we asked about the rumors that Kocharyan also wishes to quit the party, Zohrabyan said this was the first she had heard on the matter and that she couldn't comment.