Armenian opposition alliance signals flexibility on prime ministerial nominee

The Hayastan alliance would support a prime ministerial candidate nominated by the leading opposition force, a senior member of the bloc, Artsvik Minasyan, said on Thursday, signalling post-election cooperation.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the alliance’s electoral list to the Central Electoral Commission, Minasyan dismissed speculation about any prior agreement among opposition groups, including Prosperous Armenia Party, Strong Armenia Party, and the Hayastan alliance, to jointly nominate former President Robert Kocharyan as prime minister if they enter parliament.

“No such agreement ordiscussion has taken place,” he stated.

Minasyan said the opposition force securing the strongest mandate would have the first right to nominate a prime ministerial candidate, adding that his alliance would support that choice.

“Whichever opposition force emerges as the frontrunner will earn that right,” he said. “There has been no insistence or predetermined ambition that the prime minister must necessarily come from the Hayastan alliance.”