Armenpress

EX-PARLIAMENT SPEAKER UNDAUNTED BY ANOTHER DEFECTION
FROM HIS PARTY

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS: Ex-parliament
chairman Arthur Baghdasarian tried to downplay today
another defection from his Orinats Yerkir party’s
parliamentary faction, looking undaunted after Gagik
Mkheyan, a deputy chairman of the party, left it on
Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists Baghdasarian said Mkheyan
kept a very low profile in the party over the last
period and his decision was not a surprise or
extraordinary. The former head of the National
Assembly even praised his former ally for staying with
the party’s faction this long while many others
defected it right after his resignation.
Mkheyan’s move reduced to eight the number of seats
controlled by Baghdasarian’s party in the 131-strong
assembly. Before his resignation Orinats Yerkir had
the second largest faction in the National Assembly
boasting 21 members. Baghdasarian said the party’s
list of candidates who will be contesting the May 12
elections under the so-called proportional election
system will be unveiled in few days. He also said he
would hardy decide to run also from a single-mandate
constituency.