NEW ARMENIAN PRESIDENT APPOINTS HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, CABINET YET TO BE FORMED
by Natalia Leshchenko

World Markets
Global Insight
April 10, 2008

The official transfer of presidential power took place in Yerevan
yesterday, with Serzh Sargsyan taking over from Robert Kocharian.

Sargsyan also appointed Tigran Sarkisian, former Central Bank chairman
with no party affiliation, as the head of government. The cabinet will
be formed out of the representatives of four parliamentary parties
(Republican party, Prosperous Armenia, Armenia Revolutionary Federation
and Country of Order, although the allocation of portfolios between
the parties is not decided yet. The cabinet is to be formed within
the next 20 days.

Significance:The principal new development with the appointment of
Tigran Sarkisian is that the widely expected seat swap between Serzh
Sargsyan, formerly prime minister, and Robert Kocharian, the president,
in a manner similar to what is taking place in Russia, will not happen
in Armenia. The ruling elite have decided against such a blatant
power preservation move after substantial popular protests against
Sargsyan’s election that were dispersed on 1 March, leaving eight
dead. Hundreds of people turned up to the square where the opposition
protests took place earlier, while Sargsyan’s inauguration ceremony
was taking place, but no further incidents happened.