Always Considering the Will of the People: Narek Mkrtchyan

The government is not in a state of panic. This was stated today, June 3, by Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan during a conversation with journalists in the National Assembly, commenting on the domestic political situation.

“Since 2018, a democratic situation has been established in Armenia. Every initiative, every movement—for various ideas—can express their will and realize their manifestations within the framework of democratic tools, as long as the law is not violated,” he noted.

According to him, any process, acceptable or not, should be validated by the people and the community. “If the community deems this movement acceptable with its proposed ideas, we have repeatedly stated that we will always consider the will of the people. The peculiarity of the reality created after 2018 is that a situation has arisen where anyone can step forward and engage in politics—whether clergymen or others; it is they who decide, and the assessment will be given by the people,” the minister said.

When asked if the beating of an MP by police also falls under democracy, the minister replied, “Any incident should receive a legal assessment; if I am not mistaken, there is a certain process regarding that matter.”

Narek Mkrtchyan stated that if the community accepts the movement led by Bishop Bagrat, then that is the will of the people. “We have repeatedly stated that we will always consider the will of the people. When the people provide a clear assessment, we will take that assessment into account,” he added.