“Let us decide that we will solve the issue of the judicial system, and then go to elections.” This was stated by RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during an interview with the Public Television Company, referring to his proposal for holding early elections in Armenia.
Asked whether there are things that should change before the elections are held, Pashinyan said that this too should become a topic of discussion with parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces.
“Yes, today we have a parliamentary majority with which we can solve these issues, discuss them within the ‘My Step’ faction, reach an agreement and solve them. But we also want there to be discussion on these topics, and we want to hear viewpoints, have substantive discussion about everything. All this time I have not avoided answering any question in conversations with journalists or anyone else. People insist, is he a traitor, they accuse me of treason. Very well, I am ready to face that accusation, let people decide whether I am a traitor or not. Am I avoiding any accusation? Very well, the Electoral Code, I have my own ideas of what it should be like, let others also state their ideas.”
Referring to the judicial system, Pashinyan said: “The judicial system has become part of a pseudo-elite (false upper class).”
Asked whether it is right to go to elections with such a system, Pashinyan noted: “So let us decide that we solve the issue of the judicial system, and then go to elections. What I am saying is a proposal, what I am saying is not a demand and cannot be one. Let us decide that we solve the issue of the judicial system in this or that way and go to elections.”
Asked whether he has an idea regarding a time frame, the Prime Minister said: “I do not want to put forward my ideas in any way as a precondition. It may turn out that we make changes in the Constitution, and moreover, the Parliament can change those articles, and we say that the Parliament can decide on self-dissolution and calling early elections.”
Pashinyan stressed that the most important scenario for him is the following: scenarios of a coup d’état must be excluded.
Referring to the observation of opponents that this is not a coup d’état, that they are doing what Pashinyan did, the Prime Minister responded: “They had the opportunity to concentrate popular demand. Moreover, they spent unlimited money for that. No one can say that the authorities used brute force and preserved power. We are accused of being too lenient.”
Asked whether there is a response from parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces regarding the proposal to hold early elections, Pashinyan said: “I think discussions will take place, and as a result of those discussions we will come to a decision.”
To the observation that people are tired of the years-long internal political debates that wear down the means: Levon Ter-Petrosyan-Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan-Nikol Pashinyan, Serzh Sargsyan-Robert Kocharyan — constantly looking back, people will not want to live in Armenia, Pashinyan agreed with that observation: “During the war, when the second and third presidents of Artsakh had come forward with such an initiative, I agreed to that initiative. Now too, such an atmosphere needs to be formed, but people have many questions. And I say that if that is so, ultimately our goal is the people, that the people receive answers to their questions, that the people see the future, that the people believe in the future.”
