Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Predictions widely spread in Armenia over the candidacy of future head of government turned out true. Karen Karapetyan has become the new Prime Minister of Armenia.

His candidacy was approved at the Council meeting of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia on September 8, News.am reported.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan called Karapetyan “peculiar symbol of changes in Armenia,” announcing “significant changes” expected in the near future.

He thanked the former Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan: “The key for a new political culture is the ability of officials not to hold on the office if they did their utmost in the position.”

Sargsya went on to speak about the ‘successes’ of the Armenian economy under the leadership of Abrahamyan.

In addition to the resignation of Abrahamyan, Armenian President also accepted the resignation of the government, instructing the government members to perform their duties until the formation of a new Cabinet.

Hovik Abrahamyan announced his resignation on September 8 at a government meeting. Armenian media reported Abrahamyan will head the election headquarters of the Republican Party at the 2017 parliamentary elections.

He was appointed to the position of Prime Minister in April 2014. Just after Abrahamyan’s arrival, Armenia's economy, managed by corrupt, criminal and oligarchic government, started to rapidly deteriorate, coming to a dead end eventually.

GDP growth slowed to 3 percent in 2015 after 3.5 percent in 2014 and this figure still continues descending. Unemployment rate remains high, being at a 18-percent level currently, and every third of the population lives in poverty.

“People should know that the government has no magic wand to solve all economic problems,” Abrahamyan once said after his 100-day in the position of the head of government trying to justify his failures.

The recent seizure of a police station in Yerevan and following mass protests of population against the Armenian government also showed the wrong policy of the authorities, particularly of Hovik Abrahamyan.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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