‘My Step’ is United Today After Enduring the Harshest Trials, Says Pashinyan

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a concluding speech in the National Assembly during a special session for the election of the Prime Minister. Below is the text of the speech provided by the Information and Public Relations Department of the Prime Minister's Office.

“Thank you, esteemed colleagues. I want to make a note. Over the past month, I have spoken for long hours from this podium regarding the processes surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue in substantive terms, I have talked about the war and its important aspects in substantive terms, and I have discussed the changes and reforms that have taken place in Armenia in the last three years in substantive terms. I note that after all these substantive articulations and remarks, our opponents have had no substantive rebuttals. This is a very important observation, and I consider it extremely significant.

But I still want to address two points regarding the emphasis made earlier from this podium—how principled we have been, and how it is that while we were in the opposition we said one thing, and when we became the government, we said something entirely different. One of the key points of the ‘Elk’ bloc's electoral program was the introduction of a flat 20% income tax. To be honest, I did not manage to see how our colleagues voted on that change—did they vote in favor or against? They voted against. Another fundamental provision of the ‘Elk’ bloc was transitioning to a proportional electoral system for political elections. And I remember that when the proportional electoral system was recently discussed in Parliament, our esteemed colleagues displayed their principled stance, as evidenced by the well-known speeches that surfaced on the internet, in which people were more principled or, rather, stated the opposite.

This enumeration could continue for a long time. However, I believe these two examples are sufficient to illustrate what is being discussed. How principled have we been? I can say one thing: we have not always pursued our political interests. This is a truth. But we have always followed the values we declared. Before the revolution, we declared that there would be no vendettas, and there have been no vendettas. Yes, we have spoken of justice and fairness, and I reiterate, ‘there will be no vendettas.’ We promised this in conditions where, yes, we had unlimited power granted by the people.

We promised that there would be no personnel purges, and we guaranteed that everyone would have the opportunity to participate in the building of a new Armenia. Now they are holding Osipyan accountable; why only Osipyan? Other people can be held accountable too. But against this backdrop, I want to emphasize what has happened with the ‘My Step’ faction. The 88-member ‘My Step’ faction, having gone through the harshest trials, is united today and has fulfilled its greatest mission—returning the power received from the people back to the people.

The people sitting in this room—this section of the hall (left)—are connected not by business or any other shadow ties, but only by values and principles. There were those who, for example, were convinced that in November, October, and even in September, it was already being said that 5 million, 10 million, or 50 million dollars would be invested, and 20, or 23 members from the ‘My Step’ faction would be bought, excuse the expression. I don’t know where they have put them, but we saw what happened with the ‘My Step’ faction, and we saw and will see what happens to those who were worried about the nation, the people, the borders, their place of birth—let's see where they will end up. I think they have already reached their destination.

In this regard, I want to thank the ‘My Step’ faction because, no matter how I might mention Osipyans, Poghosyans, or others, I can voice openly, but the ‘My Step’ faction proved that the discussion of values and principles is not simply a toast or a headline, but something that exists and is alive in 21st century Armenia. And this fact should give our people, our society a reason for pride and an occasion to celebrate.

Let’s look at our parliamentary history. We have gone through the trials of 1998, the trials of 1999, and there have been factions where it seemed that people gathered who had gone through the most difficult trials, yet they could not withstand this trial. The ones who have withstood the most severe trial are those for whom, precisely this, is unforgivable. You, we, this is unforgivable because people do not understand how it is possible not to sacrifice oneself when the stock exchange has the highest and greatest prices. That is what is unforgivable to you, it is unforgivable to us; do not think of anything else. How can one not sell out when there are millions?

And this day is the greatest victory for us, the greatest victory for the people, the greatest victory for values, the greatest victory for morality, the greatest victory for the Republic of Armenia, and the greatest victory for the future. And again, I express my gratitude to the ‘My Step’ faction in the name of the people of the Republic of Armenia. Thank you. And do not doubt that there is a future; there is a future. Thank you.”