YEREVAN—The dramatic events the led to the resignation Serzh Sarkisian as Armenia’s prime minister brought a new political dawn in Armenia.
Nikol Pashinyan, who has led the opposition protests against Sarkisian’s rule, told a jubilant crowd at Republic Square on Monday that their demand is that the election of a new prime minister must take place in a week.
Pashinyan proposed that after the election of a new premier, a new government will be formed. As for snap parliamentary elections, Pashinyan said that the vote should take place “within the soonest possible time.”
Pashinyan also announced at the rally that at 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday, he will meet with acting prime minister Karen Karapetyan at the Marriot Hotel, the site of a meeting on Sunday where Sarkisian walked on during a meeting with Pashinyan after threating to unleash a scenario reminiscent of March 1, 2008 when 10 people were killed during clashes with police after Sarkisian was elected president.
Pashinyan said his meeting with Karapetyan will focus on the “government transition agenda.”
“The peaceful ‘velvet’ revolution cannot be left unfinished. It has to continue until the end and I hope that all of you stand firm in the name of that victory,” Pashinyan told the thousands of rally participants.
Meanwhile, the government of Armenia tendered its resignation, which was immediately ratified by Armania’s president, Armen Sarkissian, who played an interesting role during the protests over the weekend by going to Republic Square and after walking among the protesters, meeting with Pashinyan. After that incident, it was announced that then prime minister Sarkisian would meet with the opposition leader the following day, in what became an historic turning point in the 10-day-old protests.
So what does this all mean for the future of the ARF. How can they save face now that they are on the losing side of history. It will take many years to rehabilitate the brand if at all. The deep rooted suspicion and hatred among the Soviet indoctrinated masses will be next to impossible to overcome. The so-called wise leaders of the ARF made a colossal mistake by siding with greed and corruption. History might not take it so kindly and diminish it to the level of the Ramgavar party in Armenia.
The time has come for the Dashnakstutyun to see the light and support the people of Armenia instead of the Hanrapetakan Party and the Armenian Oligarchs. Our organization has been on the wrong side for too many years. The PEOPLE have spoken. If you cannot see this, then maybe it’s time to have our own internal revolt and elect those who are for the people.
The time for change is long overdue, the Bureau members in Armenia have become too complacent. Complacency is not what our founders wanted, they wanted change “for the people”, not for themselves. We have a proud history, but unfortunately, our current leaders are not following the lessons taught us by our forefathers. The lesson is that they fought “for the people”, not for themselves.
Congratulations to all concerned! Reading about the new elected president credentials and with the election of a new prime minister one can see a prosperous and bright future for the country.
Whoever is celebrating for the ending of corruption will be disappointed., HaHaHa 🙂
Well done Armenia, check mate to the old boss, welcome the new boss !
But remember, nothing is perfect, least of all mankind, and Rome wasn’t built in a day, however, that’s one dictator out of the way, now to worry about the others, to our left, right, north and south !