PEOPLE’S PARTY IS CLOSE TO SPLITTING

Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Armen Khachatrian declared his withdrawal from the People’s Party, which is part of “Unity” block controlling the most part of the Parliament. Speaker of the National Assembly was one of the founders of the People’s Party of Armenia. Robert Yengoyan, who was also among the founders of the party established by Karen Demirchian, followed his example. Other associates of Demirchian – Hmayak Hovhannisian and Vladimir Badalian had withdrawn from the party earlier. The threat of splitting of PPA became more obvious when yesterday nine deputies of the National Assembly presenting the People’s Party came out with a statement sharply criticizing the activity of the newly elected members of the Political Council of PPA. Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Gagik Aslanian, writer David Hovhannes, businessman Manvel Badeyan, general Gurgen Yeghiazarian and other prominent members of the Party are among those, who signed the statement. They consider revision of the activity strategy and methods of the Political Council the only way to prevent the split. The politicians, who have signed the statement, claim to convene a session of the Board for discussing the situation in the Party. Yesterday “Centre” community, which is regional organization of the capital, including the most part of the members who signed the statement, declared its actual disobedience to the leadership of the Party.