Abramyan named Armenian prime minister

By Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has appointed Ovik Abramyan, former speaker of parliament and vice-chairman of the ruling Republican Party (HHK), as prime minister on April 13. Abramyan was approved unanimously at a session of the HHK executive organ.

Analysts view Abramyan in the context of the criminal and oligarchical system and his role in weakening the four opposition parties, one of which is Prosperous Armenia (BHK) headed by Abramyan’s matchmaker Gagik Tsarukyan. The government, concerned by the organizing and consistent moves of the four parties, wants to cause a schism in the opposition. This is why Vice Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov did not rule out yesterday that BHK and ARF could join the coalition. Both parties said that they had not discussed the process of joining the ruling coalition.

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) will certainly abstain from becoming part of the coalition. Its members refused to consult the president when he was appointing the prime minister. The party does not recognize the legitimacy of the president. “First of all, Armenia needs transparent and fair parliamentary and presidential polls that would allow, according to the Constitution, the formation of a government elected by the people and serving them,” says HAK.

Regarding Abramyan himself, some experts are adamant that he was more convenient in the parliament than the prime minister’s post. About 50 uncontrolled members of the parliament regularly voting against the government’s projects complicate the atmosphere there. The speaker succeeded in maintaining a dialogue and de-escalating tensions in the parliament. It is uncertain who will replace Abramyan and keep pressure in the parliament low.

The appointment of Abramyan was a tough decision for Sargsyan. The choice could be motivated by ties of Abramyan with the leader of BHK and the popularity of the new PM. “Serzh Sargsyan had to consider whether Ovik Abramyan would want to stand for the president’s post after being the prime minister,” supposes Sergey Minasyan, deputy director of the Kavkaz Institute.

However, the president, checking through all the possible candidates (Secretary of the Security Council Bagdasaryan, Defense Minister Oganyan, Yerevan ex-Mayor Karen Karapetyan and others), decided to stop with Abramyan.

The procedure of Abramyan’s approval by the parliament is hardly disputable, the ruling coalition has 77 votes. But can the new prime minister and his government implement the necessary economic and social reforms? Many observers do not associate Abramyan with any expectations, because he is part of the president’s team. Of course, there can be certain declarations of intent, but any real steps towards improvement of life in the country seem rather dubious.