Armenian president resigns over lack of power

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian resigned on Sunday, January 23, claiming that the country’s constitution did not give him the power to make required changes. He ascribed his resignation to “a peculiar scenario where the President needs to be a guarantor of statehood without actually having any meaningful tool,” according to a statement on the presidential website.

“Because of the duty I assumed as President of the Republic,” Sarkissian explained. I felt obligated to do everything in my power to prevent further escalation of the internal schism, as well as potential conflicts, which may have disastrous effects.

I also sought to use my reputation and connections gained throughout my many years of work, my international political and economic potential to build a strong, stable state.

” He pointed out in the statement that due to the lack of appropriate tools endowed by the Constitution, he failed to influence the political events that led to the current national crisis.

The statement added that the president does not have the power to influence important domestic decision-making process which is important for the country.

Sarkissian stressed that the purpose of his proposal “was not to move from one model of government to another, but to create a state system based on checks and balances.

” Before his resignation, the former Armenian President was at the centre of a political crisis following an outbreak of fighting between Armenia and neighbour Azerbaijan, over control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

More than 6,500 people were killed in the six weeks of fighting, which ended in a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement, granting Azerbaijan part of the enclave and surrounding areas.

The country has also been transitioning from a direct presidential system of governance to a parliamentary one after constitutional reforms were approved in a national referendum in December 2015. The parliament can elect a president with a three-quarters majority.

Under the new constitutional amendments, although recognized as the head of state, the president will hold a largely ceremonial role with real executive power lying in the hands of the prime minister.