The National Assembly continues its discussion of candidates for committee chair posts. Consideration of the nominee to lead the sixth committee is expected to conclude soon.
The debate has now reached the exchange-of-views stage. In their speeches, lawmakers addressed the candidacy of Davit Ghazinyan, nominated by the opposition Strong Armenia faction to chair the Standing Committee on Territorial Administration and Environmental Protection.
Ghazinyan devoted much of his main speech to the energy sector, arguing that Armenia is self-sufficient in this regard. He also said he would not urge lawmakers from the ruling faction to vote for him but would be prepared to cooperate with everyone if elected.
More than two dozen lawmakers, predominantly from the ruling faction, registered to question Ghazinyan. Questions were also raised about the vote-buying case being investigated against him. Ghazinyan, who previously headed the Electric Networks of Armenia, is a defendant in the case and spent some time in detention.
This is the second candidate nominated by the opposition. Parliament earlier considered the candidacy of Hayk Farmanyan, nominated by Strong Armenia to chair the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs. The ruling Civil Contract party has not yet said how it will vote on the opposition candidates.
Lawmakers have also discussed the candidacy of Sisak Gabrielyan, nominated to chair the Education Committee.
