PM: ‘Super-prime ministerial’ system no longer exists in Armenia
The ‘super prime-ministerial’ system of government no longer exists in Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan insisted at a news conference on Wednesday, summing up his one-year tenure.
His comments came in response to a reporter’s remark that the opposition Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and Bright Armenia (LHK) factions of the parliament voted today against a bill setting a new government structure, arguing the bill fails to eliminate the ‘super prime-ministerial’ system repeatedly criticized by Pashinyan himself, and the current authorities adhere to it.
“Can you explain why a super prime minister’s car stops at a red light? Why he convenes five news conferences? Has he instructed any of you what questions to address? How many times have the current developments taken place in Armenia over the recent 30 years?” he questioned
“The super-prime ministerial system isn’t only about the laws and legal tools. A super-prime minister is someone who says – you will import sugar and you will not, I am giving the banana business to you, the petrol business to another one, here this person must be elected a mayor, a criminal case must be launched or dropped… When I criticized the super prime-ministerial system, I referred to this first of all,” Pashinyan said.
The PM also reminded that he has recently testified in court, describing the move as a ‘demonstration of political will’.
“Some say it was a show. It was not a show, but a demonstration of political will and absolute transparency,” he said.
The PM stressed the super-premiership has been eliminated in Armenia, adding there can be no super-prime ministerial system in a democratic country.
“There can be no super-premiership in a country where the power belongs to people. There is no super prime minister and super-prime ministerial system in Armenia,” he stressed.
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