Tuesday, October 12 2021 17:38

ArmInfo.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan appointed acting community heads in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Jermuk and Vayk ahead of the upcoming elections to the local  self-government bodies.

Thus, according to the decision of the Prime Minister of October 12,  Mkhitar Matevosyan was appointed acting head of Vayk community of  Vayots Dzor region, Vahagn Arsenyan - acting head of Jermuk  community, Vanik Ohanyan - acting head of Vanadzor community of Lori  region, Albert Margaryan - acting head of the Gyumri community of  Shirak region.

It is noted that the decisions were made in accordance with paragraph  2.1 of Article 27 of the Law on Local Self-Government, which states:  "In the event of the expiration of the term of office of the head of  a community, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia appoints  an acting head of the community, which includes urban settlements,  and the governor of the region appoints the acting head of the  community, which includes exclusively rural settlements."

Earlier ArmInfo reported that elections to local self-government  bodies in the Republic of Armenia will be held on October 17,  November 14 and December 5. Elections in Gyumri will take place on  October 17, in Vanadzor, Jermuk, Vayk communities - on December 5.   It is noteworthy that in all 37 newly formed communities, even if the  term of office of the head of the community has not expired,  elections to the Council of Elders will be held according to party  lists. The candidate of the party with the highest number of votes  will lead the community. Moreover, among the enlarging communities  there are those that have already been enlarged in the past, this  time new communities will be added to them. Many opposition figures,  including the heads of the communities, saw the initiative as  politically motivated. In particular, at the hearings on the  enlargement of communities in the parliament, head of the Geghamasar  community, Hakob Avetyan, stated that the decision of the authorities  to enlarge the border community of Geghamasar in the Gegharkunik  region of Armenia is purely political. He recalled that 4 years ago  the community was included in the enlargement program.  Today the  community is included in the same program for the second time, which,  according to Avetyan, is highly doubtful. "In the current process, I  see only a political goal," he said, adding that this is due to the  fact that he supported the opposition Hayastan bloc during the early  parliamentary elections.