The “Strong Armenia” party’s candidate for prime minister will be businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who is currently under house arrest, his nephew Narek Karapetyan announced.
Narek Karapetyan said the party intends to change the relevant constitutional provision through a vote in the National Assembly. “The Constitution has 148 articles—this provision will be changed by a vote of the National Assembly,” he said.
In a video message, Samvel Karapetyan declared that “in 115 days everyone will see that ‘Strong Armenia’ is not just a party,” adding that the team will “definitely succeed,” referencing the slogan “Our Way.”
Under Article 148 of Armenia’s Constitution, a government member must meet the same eligibility requirements as a National Assembly deputy, including holding Armenian citizenship for the past four years. Samvel Karapetyan is currently ineligible to become prime minister because he holds another country’s citizenship.
Human rights activist Siranush Sahakyan argued in a video statement that Article 148 is not immutable and can be amended without a referendum. Other lawyers and constitutional experts—including former justice minister Gevorg Danielyan and Constitutional Court member Alvina Gyulumyan—also said a referendum would not be required. They suggested a change could be introduced shortly after elections to allow Karapetyan to be appointed prime minister.
“We need a majority in the National Assembly,” Narek Karapetyan said, insisting the party will win together with his uncle.
He also outlined the movement’s political messaging, claiming they will “peacefully” restore what he described as occupied Armenian territory and deliver “a strong peace,” rejecting what he called a “hybrid peace” involving the resettlement of Azerbaijanis. In remarks targeting the incumbent government, Narek Karapetyan accused the prime minister—who has been in office for eight years—of seeking a third term and blamed him for weakening the army, the loss of Artsakh, rising household debt, and endangering Syunik. “This government is hungry, they can’t get enough—that’s why they don’t want to leave,” he said.
The party’s presentation also featured several former officials, including former State Revenue Committee chairman Vardan Harutyunyan and former minister of economic development and investments Suren Karayan.
