Epress.am News from Armenia
Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law, OEK) has sacked one of its parliamentary faction members, according to a statement issued by the party on Tuesday.
OEK points out that in the two years that Gagik Baghdasaryan was MP, he never engaged in any of the party’s organizational activities. Furthermore, the statement notes that when voting on laws in the National Assembly, Baghdasaryan’s vote was not in accordance with the party’s political position.
As an example, the party cites the Feb. 6 vote on banning cash transactions among businesses exceeding 3 million drams ($7,770), which was not approved due to lack of quorum in parliament. As previously reported, Prosperous Armenia MPs boycotted the session and didn’t vote on the bill.
“Considering his improper behavior toward the party and its decisions, the political council of the Orinats Yerkir party has decided to dismiss Gagik Baghdasaryan from the Orinats Yerkir party,” reads the statement.
The MP, however, told local daily Yerkir today that it was the party who convinced him to assume parliamentary mandates a year after he left OEK back in May 2009. As for calling him out on his “improper behavior,” Baghdasaryan said:
“You know what my ‘improper behavior’ is? Just that I voted abstained, and for two bills with which I didn’t agree, I voted against. That’s my improper behavior, can you believe it? I told the same [head of the OEK parliamentary faction Heghine] Bisharyan, take [the Constitution] and read it, that a MP votes according to his beliefs and conscience. Who’s Bisharyan to come instruct me, [saying] which button [on the voting screen] I should press? Maybe they can give orders from HHK [the Republican Party of Armenia] as to who should do what, but no one can order me,” he said.
Asked to explain whether he left the party or the party dismissed him, the MP said: “I said I would announce at the announcements period that I’m withdrawing my powers as deputy, but two hours before, they call me and tell me, did you know that OEK dismissed you? OEK’s high-ranking leader called me yesterday at 1 pm — how did that happen, that yesterday they’re dismissing me for ‘improper behavior’? I don’t see a need to speak with him. What was I to say — I made my decision long ago and I haven’t regretted it; moreover, I feel so relieved. I should’ve taken this step months ago. There’s nothing to say to [OEK party leader] Artur Baghdasaryan.”
In Gagik Baghdasaryan’s opinion, Orinats Yerkir has moved away from its ideology, and since the 2008 presidential election, his relations with the party have never been ideal.
“OEK has moved away from the ‘rule of law’ ideology. I am the bearer of the real rule of law ideology, but I’m not a Rule of Law member. OEK has also moved away from the rule of law — from everything. There’s no OEK, OEK has become [the] Republican [Party of Armenia],” he said, adding that he doesn’t rule out the possibility of joining another parliamentary faction.