Armenian speaker refutes reports he could become president

Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonyan on July 2 rejected media reports suggesting he could become the country’s next president, calling the claims unfounded and inappropriate.

“It’s absurd, I don’t think about such things, there have never been such conversations with anyone, I consider it inappropriate,” Simonyan told journalists, as per Armenina media reports cited by Caliber.Az.

He stressed that Armenia already has a president, adding: “The Republic of Armenia has a president. By the way, I will say as a citizen, this is my most beloved president, whom I love very much, respect very much, and such discussions are simply absurd.”

Simonyan also made clear he does not intend to leave active politics.

“Are there really so many politicians like me in the political field that I should leave politics, abandon it, so to speak, to a three-headed alliance so they can continue to torment the Republic of Armenia? I took part in the election campaign and made certain promises to our citizens together with my colleagues and the prime minister. I held my trench here for five years, I will continue to hold it in another place. What has changed? No position is permanent, and thank God,” he said.

Earlier reports indicated that Simonyan plans to relinquish his parliamentary mandate.

By Tamilla Hasanova