Moments ago, PM Nikol Pashinyan announced in a Facebook post that he invites parliamentary and non-parliamentary forces to consultations to discuss holding snap parliamentary elections in 2021.
His post reads as follows:
“Dear people, dear compatriots.
Now it is already obvious that the opposition process demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister did not receive the support of the people.
The opposition had all the opportunities to generate popular support around its demand. He has huge financial, media and organizational resources, he had wide opportunities to organize rallies and protests, but not only could he not provide popular support for his demands, but also the number of his supporters was reduced to a minimum, the process of the square was reduced.
And no one can say that we have kept power by using brute force. On the contrary, we are accused of unnecessary mildness.
All this, however, does not change in any way our political team and my personal commitment to stand before the people and answer to the people. I do not cling to the seat of the Prime Minister, but I also cannot have a careless attitude towards the government, the post of the Prime Minister given to me by the people.
The fate of that position and the future political leadership of the country must be decided by the people with their free expression of will, and I, as the Prime Minister of Armenia, consider myself the guarantor of that free expression of will.
I am also ready to leave the post of Prime Minister as a result of the people’s decision. And I can leave the post of the Prime Minister only by the decision of the people.
I am also ready to continue the leadership of the Republic of Armenia in these difficult times in case the people’s trust is re-established.
There is only one way to get the answer to all these questions – to hold special parliamentary elections.
Based on the above, I invite the parliamentary and interested extra-parliamentary forces to consultations on holding special parliamentary elections in 2021.”
