Tuesday, October 2 2018 11:03

ArmInfo. The first meeting on the topic of early elections to the National Assembly was held between Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the head of the  parliamentary faction of the Republican Party Vahram Baghdasaryan.  "We exchanged views on this issue and agreed that it is necessary to  start the negotiation process," Pashinyan told reporters after the  meeting, adding that one should not think that a decision could be  made in one meeting.

According to the Prime Minister, the elections should be held as soon  as possible, within 2-3 months.  Referring to fears that in this case  ''My Step'' could gain 80%, Pashinyan noted that it is impossible,  because according to the current Constitution, one third of the  parliament should be the opposition. "That is, whatever the results  of the elections, in the future parliament the political opposition  will be represented no less than today. In the meantime, the  government will have the majority, which will allow it to fully  function and deal with the country's agenda. There is another  difference - we will have legitimate power and legitimate minority.  Even if the second force gains 5%, it will receive so many votes as a  bonus that it will have one third of the votes of the parliament and  guarantees, " Pashinyan said. At the same time, as the Prime Minister  noted, these guarantees can be strengthened, if there are any doubts,  in the form of an additional quota for the posts of chairmen of  commissions for the opposition.

When asked about the content of the talks, Nikol Pashinyan answered  that at the moment the representatives of the RPA publicly say that  the elections should be held in 2022. ''I think this is a non-  constructive position, because as a result of political processes, it  becomes clear that for citizens of Armenia the number one issue is  extraordinary parliamentary elections. Until this issue is resolved,  other issues will not be resolved. Everyone with bated breath is  waiting for early elections. If any political force opposes this,  then it wants the people to continue to live with bated breath. This  is wrong approach, "Pashinyan said.

On the question of his vision of an agreement with the RPA and other  political forces, Nikol Pashinyan said that there are two options:  the first is to make constitutional changes, the other is to sign an  agreement which will set the date of the prime minister's  resignation, the prime minister is not elected twice, and  extraordinary elections are held as a result. "Both options have  advantages and risks," he said. According to the head of the  government, he intends to meet with the leaders of the factions,  extra-parliamentary forces, after which he will meet again with  representatives of the Republican Party of Armenia. 

Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of the faction of the Republican Party of  Armenia, in his turn, commenting on the meeting with Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan, stated that "it's not the street that forms the  parliament." According to him, the country needs a full-fledged  political parliament, where there is opposition worthy of the  authorities. According to him on the wave of euphoria, it is  impossible to form a parliament. "Time is needed for this, and it is  impossible to be guided by those who benefit. If at the moment some  political force benefits from early elections, this does not mean  that there is need to hold them. Such a parliament should be formed,  which actually reflects the balance of political forces ",  Baghdasaryan stated.

According to the representative of the RPA, it takes time for the  political forces to prepare. "It is necessary to give time to the  Prime Minister to work so that the public can make right  assessments," said Baghdasaryan. He said that the negotiations with  the Prime Minister are not completed and will resume after  Pashinyan's negotiations with other political forces, however he  considered the start of the process successful. At the same time, he  denied the information that he had insisted on holding elections in  2022 at the meeting with Pashinyan.