YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Outgoing Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan is “very likely” to serve as first deputy prime minister in Armenia’s new government that will be formed later this month, the ruling Republican Party (HHK) said on Tuesday, April 10.
“Karen Karapetyan will continue to play a serious role in the government system,” the HHK spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, said. “It’s just that as has been the case until now, the leader and locomotive of that system will be [former President] Serzh Sargsyan, the head of the ruling party.”
Karapetyan has been tipped to take up what will be the second most powerful position under Armenia’s new, parliamentary system of government since Sargsyan signaled last month his plans to hold on to power. The two men met on Saturday to discuss their political future two days before Sargsyan completed his second and final presidential term. The latter indicated that they will be Armenia’s two top leaders for the next four years.
Karapetyan said on Monday that they decided to “propose” to the HHK to nominate Sargsyan for prime minister. He cited the need for a “smooth and effective transition to the new system of government.”
The Armenian parliament controlled by the HHK and its allies is due to vote on the new prime minister on April 17. Sharmazanov said the party’s governing body will discuss and field its candidate for the top government post by the end of this week.
Sargsyan appointed Karapetyan as prime minister in September 2016 in the hope of speeding up sluggish economic growth through major reforms promised by the former business executive. Karapetyan has since repeatedly expressed his desire to retain his post after Armenia is transformed into a parliamentary republic in April.
