Artur Bagdasaryan, leader of the Orinats Yerkir Party in Armenia, resigned as the head of the National Security Council and left the coalition of President Serzh Sargsyan last Friday, according to Egine Bisharyan, head of the party’s fraction in the parliament. Thus, the ruling Republican Party lost its last ally. Members of the Orinats Yerkir Party are unhappy with new ministerial appointments, appointment of the new prime minister, ignoration of bills proposed by the party.
Analyst Saro Saroyan said that the party had not decided whether to join opposition or cooperate with the government by different means. He reminded that Orinats Yerkir had never been an independent political force and had always been influenced by other forces, mainly by Western countries.
Bagdasaryan has good ties with his Russian counterpart Patrushev. He is considered a candidate to head the CSTO academy in Yerevan. Some media sources say that he plans to visit Russia and be away from Orinats Yerkir.
Opposition parties Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Dashnaktsutyun and the Heritage have not reacted to the decision of Orinats Yerkir.
Withdrawal of Orinats Yerkir has reduced the number of votes of the Republican Party from 75 to 69. Decision-making at the Armenian parliament requires at least 66 votes.
