“It is evident that Armenia’s Prime Ministers could never make a full use of their constitutional rights and no matter how well the constitution balances branches of power, Armenia continues remaining a presidential state”, Armine Avetyan’, analyst of “1in.am News And Analyses” touched upon the issue of Prime Minister independence from president conducting a retrospective study of Armenia’s prime ministers.
Avetyan notes that even Andranik Margaryan, prime minister with support of the Republican Party could hardly make fundamental changes in the economy. Noting that when the issue of independence discussed in political circles, names of three prime ministers serve exemplary: Hrant Bagratyan, Vazgen Sargsyan and Serzh Sargsyan.
Responding to Avetyan’s question concerning his own independence, Armenia’s first prime minister Vazgen Manoukyan had noted “the constitution of my time gave the prime minister much more rights than the constitution today. Furthermore, no prime minister can feel independent being connected to the people through both the Parliament and various institutions.”
Hrant Bagratyan, Armenia’s PM who dealt with economy’s liberalization responded to the same question noting “ I was always independent in my actions. When I saw various ministers trying to hinder that independence I applied to the president for resignation, I did that twice. Though the ministers then were accountable to the president and not the prime minister and they had a right not to participate in government sessions, I did not let their secretaries do that either. Thus I finally resigned in 1996.”
Aram Sargsyan (PM after October 27 incidents in the Parliament) on his turn noted his time being quite different and him having a strong political force beyond. “today’s prime ministers are accountants who do their accounting either good or bad”. Touching upon Serzh Sargsyan’s criticism at the government session Aram Sargsyan noted “president meets with the prime minister every Monday from 12:00-14:00 and could clarify the problems then. Problems need to be solved and not made show of” concluded Aram Sargsyan.