Armenia’s ruling party will raise no obstacles to tycoon Gagik Tsarukian should he decide to return to active politics, according to a senior member.
Tsarukian, who left the post of chairman of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) and retired from politics altogether under government pressure early last year, has repeatedly hinted at his possible political comeback ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections lately.
In his public remarks the tycoon, who even now has a seat in parliament and also chairs the National Olympic Committee, said he bears no grudge against members of the governing Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) some of whom publicly used offensive language against him.
In February 2015, President Serzh Sarkisian called Tsarukian “evil” and said he should not be in Armenian politics. Sarkisian, who also heads the HHK, went on to effectively threaten to prosecute the wealthy businessman for alleged tax evasion.
The acrimonious tirade was a reaction to Tsarukian’s threats to scuttle the Sarkisian-initiated constitutional reform by means of street protests that the BHK had planned to stage along with two other opposition parties.
The tycoon eventually walked away from a showdown and ceased his political activities, citing the need to avoid bloodshed.
Tsarukian and Sarkisian appear to have subsequently made peace, as they repeatedly made joint public appearances.
Sarkisian also attended the October 31 ceremonial opening of a wellness center in Yerevan built by Tsarukian, prompting more speculation that his political team and he personally did not object to the wealthy businessman’s reengaging in political activities.
“Tsarukian himself decided to quit politics and it is up to him to make a decision on his political comeback,” Gagik Melikian, secretary of the HHK parliamentary faction, said in an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am).
Armenia -- Secretary of the HHK parliamentary faction Gagik Melikian, speaking on Azatutyun TV, Yerevan, 31Oct,2016
Asked whether the HHK would raise obstacles to Tsarukian, Melikian said: “The HHK has no intentions to raise obstacles to anyone, including Tsarukian.”
Talking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) on Monday, the BHK’s current leader Naira Zohrabian said that if Tsarukian eventually returns to politics, he will do so on an opposition platform. She said that the BHK that was founded by Tsarukian in 2006 in its turn will continue to push for a regime change by means of elections.
But given the history, most political observers in Armenia tend to believe that if he eventually decides to resume his active political career, Tsarukian is unlikely to renew his harsh criticism of President Sarkisian or challenge the current government.
Some members of the opposition and media claim Tsarukian’s return to politics has actually been encouraged by Sarkisian himself and is intended to “steal” opposition votes from people unhappy with the government’s handling of economic and social affairs.