Businessman Samvel Karapetyan, currently under house arrest and charged with calling for the usurpation of power and the overthrow of the constitutional order, has been nominated as “Strong Armenia’s” prime ministerial candidate, his nephew Narek Karapetyan announced at the party’s launch at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex.
The nomination conflicts with Article 148 of Armenia’s Constitution, which ties government eligibility to parliamentary requirements. The party says it will seek to amend the provision through a National Assembly vote to remove the barrier posed by Karapetyan’s dual citizenship, including Russian citizenship. He was also elected party chairman at its February 11 congress.
“Strong Armenia first and foremost needs strong leadership. A new leader with managerial skills. A new, yet highly experienced leader. Our party’s candidate for prime minister is Samvel Karapetyan,” Narek Karapetyan said.
“The Constitution has article 148. That provision will be changed by a vote in the National Assembly,” Narek Karapetyan added, emphasizing that they need a majority in parliament and asserting that they will win together with Samvel Karapetyan.
The nomination contradicts the current Constitution of Armenia, which requires that a member of the Government, including the prime minister, meet the eligibility criteria set for members of parliament. Under Article 148 of the Constitution, a government member must satisfy the requirements applicable to an MP.
The Constitution stipulates that a member of the National Assembly must be at least 25 years old, have been solely a citizen of the Republic of Armenia for the past four years, have permanently resided in Armenia during that period, have the right to vote, and be proficient in Armenian.
Samvel Karapetyan cannot serve as prime minister because he holds citizenship of another country. Karapetyan is also a citizen of the Russian Federation.
The party’s official launch took place at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex, where its political agenda was presented and the name of its prime ministerial candidate was announced.
During the event, attorney and President of the Center for International and Comparative Law, Siranush Sahakyan, addressed the audience via video message, outlining the legal framework of constitutional regulations.
According to Sahakyan, the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia provides for three regimes of amendments: the first concerns unchangeable articles; the second applies to chapters and articles that may be amended exclusively through a referendum; and the third includes amendments that may be adopted by the National Assembly.
She noted that Article 148 of the Constitution, which regulates the requirements for members of the Government, does not fall under the category of unchangeable provisions and does not require a referendum to be amended.
“Article 148 of the Constitution is not unchangeable, and its amendment does not require a referendum. The necessary changes must be adopted by the National Assembly,” Sahakyan emphasized.
According to her, once the initiative is formally introduced, the draft amendment is put to a vote in the National Assembly and must receive the support of two-thirds of the total number of deputies in order to pass.
During the party’s congress on February 11, Samvel Karapetyan was also elected as the chairman of the “Strong Armenia” party.
He is currently under house arrest and has been charged with publicly calling for the usurpation of power and the overthrow of the constitutional order.
