Armenia’s newly elected National Assembly opened its first session Sunday amid renewed tensions between the government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, sharp exchanges between governing and opposition lawmakers, and controversy over the conduct of the proceedings.
Ruben Rubinyan, the ruling Civil Contract party’s sole nominee for president of the National Assembly, called for a more civil political atmosphere and proposed that the government and opposition begin from a “zero point.” However, he also warned that the ruling majority was prepared to return to its previous confrontational methods “in the harshest sense of the word” if the opposition rejected that approach. Opposition lawmakers questioned Rubinyan on issues including his contacts in Turkey and the future of Tigranashen.
The opening session was overshadowed by the unprecedented decision not to invite Catholicos Karekin II, although Armenian law grants the Catholicos the right to address the opening of a newly elected parliament. When questioned by reporters, Rubinyan declared that he did not recognize “any Catholicos at this moment,” referred to the Armenian Church leader by his birth name, Ktrich Nersisyan, and dismissed further questions about his absence.
The two opposition factions later visited Holy Etchmiadzin, where they met with Catholicos Karekin II and received his blessing. Armenia faction leader Anna Grigoryan said the discussion included the need for national solidarity.
The session also began without an official moment of silence for those killed defending Armenia and Artsakh. At the initiative of Strong Armenia lawmaker Edgar Ghazaryan, however, all governing and opposition deputies eventually rose to honor the fallen.
Parliament adjourned before completing the election of its leadership and will resume its work Monday. Its remaining agenda includes the election of the speaker and three deputy speakers, the formation of permanent committees, proposed changes to the structure of the government, and consideration of the government’s program.
