The internal political developments connected with the mayoral elections of Yerevan have to a certain extent pushed back the importance of the state budget cut – the sequester as well as the rumors of the possibility of prime minister Tigran Sargsyan’s resignation in that regard. However, according to well-known sources the issue of resignation of Tigran Sargsyan still remains on the agenda of the government. Moreover, as they say the government already discusses the candidacy of Sargsyan’s successor and also post where he is going to be appointed. Moreover, it is not excluded that the prime minister may be substituted before the mayoral elections. Based on this there are rumors that the post of the prime minister may be occupied by the RPA candidate of the mayoral elections, 5th number in the proportional list of the mayoral elections, managing director of ArmRusGazProm Karen Karapetyan. Moreover it is possible that the post of the deputy prime minister may be appointed by the current chief of staff of RA president Karen Karapetyan. According to our information the government plans this scenario based on the developments of the upcoming campaign of the mayoral elections. It means these changes will be made when the government copes with the inevitability of their failure in the elections, the possibility of which gradually grows even more (even the pro-government sociologists speak about the equal chances of the RPA and the ANC). The logic of the mentioned scenario is that even if the opposition wins the mayoral race at least the government will be fortified through the executive power. And the fact of selecting Karen Karapetyan is connected with the fact that he is the “man from Russia.” As of Tigran Sargsyan, according to our information he was suggested to chair the Pan-Armenian Bank to be established in near future. However, Sargsyan himself wishes to return to his previous post in the Central Bank. Of course, it is a possibility that this plan will work not before May 31 but some time before September when the budget will be officially sequestered.
