Armenian president resigns saying Constitution doesn’t give him enough influence

Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian speaks in the course of the UN Local weather Change Convention (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 2, 2021. Adrian Dennis/Pool by way of REUTERS

MOSCOW, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Armenian President Armen Sarkissian tendered his resignation on Sunday, saying he believes the nation’s structure doesn’t give him adequate powers to affect occasions.

Sarkissian, president since 2018, was in a standoff with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan final yr over a lot of points, together with the dismissal of the pinnacle of the armed forces.

The position of prime minister is seen as extra highly effective than that of president.

“I’ve been considering for a very long time, I’ve determined to resign from the submit of the President of the Republic after working actively for about 4 years,” Sarkissian mentioned in an announcement revealed on the president’s official web site.

“The query could come up as to why the President did not affect the political occasions that led us to the present nationwide disaster. The reason being apparent once more – the dearth of acceptable instruments … – the Structure. The roots of a few of our potential issues are hidden within the present Primary Legislation.”

At a referendum in December 2015, Armenia grew to become a parliamentary republic, whereas presidential powers have been considerably curtailed.

Sarkissian in his assertion didn’t refer on to any explicit occasions or points.

Armenia agreed a ceasefire with Azerbaijan final November at their border, after Russia urged them to step again from confrontation following the deadliest conflict since a six-week battle in 2020 when Moscow additionally brokered a peace deal to finish the hostilities.

Prime Minister Pashinyan has since been below strain, with common avenue protests demanding he step down over the phrases of the peace settlement. Beneath the 2020 deal brokered by Russia, Azerbaijan regained management of territory it had misplaced throughout a battle within the early Nineties.

Armenia seceded from the Soviet Union in 1991 however stays depending on Russia for help and funding. Many Armenians accuse the federal government of corruption and mishandling an economic system that has struggled to beat the legacy of central planning.

Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin;
Modifying by Andrew Cawthorne and Susan Fenton

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