Following Armen Sarkissian’s resignation as Armenia’s president, the parliamentary opposition and the ruling faction are in no hurry to announce the names of their possible presidential candidates.

Ruling Civil Contract parliamentary faction Secretary MP Gevorg Papoyan, at a parliamentary session today, called for a five to six day waiting period before the factions announce their candidates to replace Sarkissian. 

Papoyan said that according to the law Sarkissian still has time to withdraw his resignation. Civil Contract MP Vahagn Hovakimyan agreed with his colleague.

"The president has seven days to withdraw his application starting from today, but according to the law, he can withdraw his resignation with a written application. To start discussing the issue of candidates is not right for the institution of the president," Hovakimyan said.

He said that since Sarkissian theoretically can withdraw his resignation, the ruling faction hasn’t discussed the issue of replacement candidates.

The pro-government MPs refrained from commenting on Hetq's claim that Sarkissian was a dual citizen when he was elected president. They said that such reports must be investigated by law enforcement agencies. 

MP Artsvik Minasyan, secretary of the Hayastan opposition parliamentary faction, said he and his colleagues are discussing possible candidates and will announce a decision soon.

Minasyan said that all presidential candidates must be non-partisan to guarantee all aspects of the constitution. 

Hayastan faction MP Anna Grigoryan took issue with the position expressed yesterday by PM Nikol Pashinyan that presidential candidates must be in sync with the government and the parliamentary majority.  

"Nikol Pashinyan wants the president to be someone who will not raise objections on any issue, a person who will not create obstacles, and who will be oblivious to the situation in the country," Grigoryan said.

Hayastan faction MP Agnesa Khamoyan, referring to the issue of Armen Sarkissian being a dual citizen when elected president, emphasized that Nikol Pashinyan is Sarkissian’s accomplice. Khamoyan said that Pashinyan knew about this and said nothing.

Opposition With Honor faction MP Tigran Abrahamyan said that the faction will announce its position on possible candidates for the residency soon. 

(Armen Sarkissian submitted his resignation on the evening of January 23. On January 24, National Assembly President Alen Simonyan reported that he had received the resignation application. Armen Sarkissian, according to parliamentary rules, can withdraw the application within seven days. If the application is not withdrawn, the parliamentary president temporarily assumes the powers of the president.)