Armenian government insiders discuss possible presidential reshuffle

Discussions are under way in Armenia over a possible change in the presidency, with several senior figures from the ruling Civil Contract party emerging as potential candidates.

Thus, political circles are increasingly focused on the health of incumbent President Vahagn Khachaturyan, raising the possibility that he could leave office before the end of his seven-year term, which runs until 2029, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Khachaturyan was elected president in 2022.

Amid the speculation, several possible successors are being discussed within the ruling political establishment.

These include Head of the Prime Minister’s Office Araik Harutyunyan, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan, and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Reports suggest that Harutyunyan’s candidacy was also considered during the previous presidential election cycle, although it ultimately failed to gain sufficient backing within the governing team at the time.

By Aghakazim Guliyev