I Think Something Has Changed in Our Parliament Recently: Pashinyan

In a Q&A session at the Transatlantic Relations Center in Prague, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan commented on the relations between the government and the opposition, stating, "I think something has changed in our parliament recently. At least with my participation, we have had at least two very important discussions in our parliament."

He added that there have been some incidents, and perhaps emotions have calmed down a bit, opening the field for more constructive discussions. "I believe it is the responsibility of the government and also the majority to do everything possible to create a proper platform, especially in parliament—for sometimes very sharp, intense discussions, but with constructive content. Recently, I made some important statements in our parliament, and I saw that the opposition listened to my messages. By the way, this is a success for our parliament since even last year, they were not listening, they were throwing things, I do not know, fighting with fists and hands. This is also a challenge for our democracy, to create a proper atmosphere for logical discussions. This does not mean that they should not be intense, but overall, we have started to listen to each other. I hope this is not just a coincidence; it is the beginning of a new culture," Pashinyan said.

He also emphasized that there are only three days left until he presents the government’s annual report, during which he intends to listen to the speeches and all questions from opposition representatives. "I see that there is a field for having very in-depth discussions about the present, the future, and even the past of Armenia," he noted.