In his address broadcast live, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia stated that he considers it important that his address take place precisely on Citizen’s Day. In his address he said:
«Dear people,
Proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia,
Proud citizens of the Republic of Artsakh,
Proud Armenians of the Diaspora
On March 18 of this year, following discussions with the President of the Republic and the heads of parliamentary factions, I announced the decision to hold early parliamentary elections in Armenia on June 20, 2021.
Under the current Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the holding of early parliamentary elections is possible only when the Prime Minister resigns and Parliament twice fails to elect a Prime Minister. After this, the National Assembly is considered dissolved by force of law, and early parliamentary elections are held.
In order to implement the decision to hold early parliamentary elections on June 20, today I am resigning from the office of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.
The provisions of the Constitution also stipulate that for the National Assembly to be considered dissolved by force of law, a vote on the election of a Prime Minister must take place in Parliament. To comply with these procedures, I will be nominated twice as a candidate for Prime Minister. The other factions and deputies of the National Assembly will not nominate another candidate for Prime Minister. The parliamentary majority will not elect a Prime Minister, and the National Assembly will be considered dissolved, and early parliamentary elections will be scheduled.
During this period, I will continue to perform the duties of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia to the full extent provided by legislation and the Constitution.
Dear compatriots,
With regard to the timeline for holding early elections on June 20, I could have resigned not necessarily today. But I considered it important that the resignation take place precisely today, on Citizen’s Day. This is an important symbol that in this way we are returning the power received from the citizen of the Republic of Armenia to the citizen, so that he — the citizen of the Republic of Armenia — decides the future fate of the government through free, fair and competitive elections.
In today’s address, I do not wish to touch upon our successes and failures, victories and defeats since 2018. I have spoken on these topics many times, and the upcoming pre-election period will provide many such opportunities.
At this moment, I want to emphasise once again why we consider it necessary to hold early parliamentary elections:
In 2020, we went through catastrophic events. Almost everyone has expressed themselves on the causes, foundations and solutions of what happened — political forces, members of the government, intellectuals, clergy, civil society organisations, informal groups.
The only subject that has not had the institutional (systemic) opportunity to express an opinion is the people, and therefore the people must have the opportunity to have their say, to give assessments regarding the past and the present, and to make decisions regarding the future. Early elections are being held to create that opportunity.
I proposed the idea of holding early elections in 2021 as early as the end of 2020. But it was rejected by a number of forces, because those circles rejecting the idea of early elections believed that the fate of the government should be decided in so-called elite closed rooms, and the people should be isolated from this process.
Those forces took such an approach not only because they understand that they have no chance of earning the trust of the people — the highest bearer of power in Armenia — but also because it is their political creed that the people, driven to polling stations by buses and administrative levers, should merely register the decisions made by the so-called elite.
Our creed, however, is completely different: the free expression of the people’s will is the only source of power and sovereignty, and the future fate of the government shall be decided only and exclusively by the people, and I consider myself the guarantor of this opportunity and right.
I want to emphasise that our party, “Civil Contract,” will participate in the early parliamentary elections, I will stand as a candidate for Prime Minister, and we will obediently submit to the decisions made by the people and unconditionally fulfil our duties before the people.
If the people decide that I must leave the office of Prime Minister, I will carry out that decision; if the people decide that I should continue to serve as Prime Minister, I will carry out that decision.
In concluding my remarks, I want once again to express words of homage to all our brothers and sisters who fell in the 44-day war, and to their family members. To express solidarity with the families of all our compatriots considered missing, to wish patience and endurance to all our captive compatriots and their loved ones, and to say — our captive compatriots will definitely return, and we must have the strength and vigour to ensure their return.
Dear people,
Proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia,
Proud citizens of the Republic of Artsakh,
Proud Armenians of the Diaspora
Do not doubt for a single minute, know, be certain —
In Armenia and Artsakh there is a future, there is a future, and the building of that future begins today.
Once again bowing before all our martyrs, I congratulate us all on the occasion of Citizen’s Day.
And so,
Long live Freedom,
Long live the Republic of Armenia,
Long live Artsakh,
And long may we live, and our children, who shall live in a Free and Happy Armenia, in a Free and Happy Artsakh»:
