Armenian President Armen Sarkissian published a statement on the official website on Sunday and announced that he was resigning.
“This is absolutely not an emotional decision, and there is a certain logic in it. The President of the country does not have the necessary tools to influence the most important issues for the state and the nation, both in domestic and foreign policy. In such a difficult period for our country, when national unity is needed , the institution of the presidency should not become a target for gossip and conspiracy theories, thereby diverting public attention from the most important issues,” Sargsyan said.
The President also noted that the country lives “in such a strange reality, when the head of state cannot influence issues related to war and peace”, cannot veto laws that he considers inappropriate for the people and the state.
The President is elected by the National Assembly (Parliament) for seven years, respectively, the National Assembly accepts his resignation. The Armenian constitution provides for the following steps in early presidential elections. Not earlier than 25 days and not later than 35 days after the presidency becomes vacant, extraordinary elections are held by the National Assembly of the country. The countdown starts from the moment of the relevant statement of the Parliament.
As noted on the website of the president, “according to the procedure established by the constitutional amendments of 2015, from April 9, 2018, from the day President Armen Sarkissian took office, the Republic of Armenia switched from a semi-presidential form of government to a parliamentary one.”
Until the election of a new president, the duties of the head of state are performed by the speaker of parliament.
