YEREVAN, November 26. /ARKA/. The change of power in Armenia is very likely to have a big impact on the balance of regional and non-regional forces in the South Caucasus, shaped after 2008, Alexander Krylov, President of the Caucasus Society of Experts, said today when speaking at an international round table on the significance of 2018 for the South Caucasus.
He said the nature of possible changes now depends largely on those political and economic reforms that will happen following the December 9 snap parliamentary elections. According to him, if the new government demonstrates its effectiveness and ensures stable development of Armenia, it will become a stabilizing factor for the whole region.
“Otherwise, we are likely to witness the growth of disintegration tendencies not only in Armenia, but also across the South Caucasus,” Krylov argued.
Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resigned October 16 to clear way for the dissolution of the parliament and holding early parliamentary elections. Under the Armenian Constitution, early elections are held if lawmakers fail twice within 14 days to appoint a prime minister.
Pashinyan was elected as PM by the country's National Assembly after former president turned-prime minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned on April 23 under immense public pressure provided by weeks of nationwide protest against Sargsyan and his Republican Party.
Nine political parties and 2 blocs will be contesting the polls. They are My Step bloc, the Prosperous Armenia Party, the National Progress Party, the Christian-National Revival, the Sasna Tsrer All-Armenian Party, the Orinats Yerkir Party, the We bloc, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party, the Bright Armenia bloc, the Republican Party of Armenia, the Social Democratic Party and the Decision of Citizen party. -0-
