Tigran Sarkisyan
Tigran Sarkisyan 
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| Positions | Prime Minister |
| Languages | Armenian |
| Ethnicities | Armenian |
| Dialects | Eastern Armenian |
Armenian PM Resigns
Hovannes Movsisian
03.04.2014
After six years in office, Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian unexpectedly stepped down on Thursday for reasons that were not immediately clear.
The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) said that Sarkisian announced his resignation at a meeting of its governing body chaired by President Serzh Sarkisian.
“The prime minister said that it is his personal decision,” HHK spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov told a news conference after the meeting. “He thanked all of his colleagues, all government members, and all HHK representatives for the joint work and asked us to grant his request.”
The premier confirmed his resignation on his Facebook page. He too gave no reasons for the move. “I wish the new government productive work for the good of the country,” he wrote.
According to Sharmazanov, Sarkisian first tendered his resignation a month ago but was asked by the president to continue performing his duties until a Constitutional Court ruling on a controversial pension reform implemented by the government.
The ruling party representative refused to be drawn on reasons for the move. He insisted only that it has nothing to do with a vote of no confidence in Sarkisian’s cabinet which Armenia’s four main opposition parties planned to propose in the parliament on April 28.
Under the Armenian constitution, all government ministers must also step down if the prime minister is dismissed or decides to quit.
Sharmazanov said that the HHK leadership did not discuss any candidacies for the post of prime minister. “The appointment of the government and the prime minister is the prerogative of the president of the republic and the [HHK-led] parliamentary majority,” he said. “In accordance with the constitution, the prime minister will discuss the composition of the government with the majority and all factions of the National Assembly.”
Tigran Sarkisian, 54, was appointed prime minister shortly after Serzh Sarkisian took over as Armenia’s president in April 2008. He was the governor of the country’s Central Bank until then.
Armenian PM Unsure Of Political Future
18.07.2011 Anna Israelian, Tigran Avetisian
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has pointedly declined to dismiss speculation that the unfolding dialogue between Armenia’s government and leading opposition force could put his continued tenure at risk.
In a weekend interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Sarkisian also admitted facing “competition” from other influential members of the country’s political leadership.
Sarkisian was the main target of verbal attacks from representatives of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) during the last rally held by the opposition alliance on June 30. This fact prompted suggestions that the HAK might ease pressure on President Serzh Sarkisian (no relation) if the latter sacks his reformist prime minister.
Asked whether he thinks his job may indeed be on the line now, Tigran Sarkisian said, “God knows.” He would not comment further.
The former longtime governor of Armenia’s Central Bank was also reserved about chances for the success of the unprecedented dialogue. “Let’s wait and see,” he said.
Sarkisian has been dogged by rumors about his impending sacking throughout his three-year tenure. Parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamian, widely regarded as the 51-year-old premier’s main government rival, fanned those rumors when he questioned the Armenian government’s socioeconomic record in April. Sarkisian laughed off the resignation talk at the time.
Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Sarkisian acknowledged that he is challenged not only by opposition leaders but also some government figures and factions. But he insisted that this is a “normal” phenomenon characteristic of democratic countries.
“Any political force must draw up its programs, promote its leaders through an honest and fair competition,” he said. “Such a competition is normal and I have no problem with that.”
“Our analysts, our political elite, our political parties must slowly introduce those democratic traditions into the Republic of Armenia. There must be competition not only among parties but also within them.”
Both Tigran Sarkisian and Abrahamian are senior members of President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK).
Abrahamian claimed last week that despite a widely held belief, the prime minister will not top the list of HHK candidates in next year’s parliamentary elections.
Sarkisian did not deny or confirm this. “That issue has not yet been discussed in the [HHK’s] Executive Body,” he said.