As parliamentary elections in Armenia approach, the activity of political forces is also increasing.
Currently, the main opposition political force is the "Strong Armenia" Party, established under the patronage of Samvel Karapetyan, owner of the "Tashir" Group of Companies.
The founding congress of the "Strong Armenia" Party will be held on February 12, and the candidate for Prime Minister will be announced there.
Modern.az reports that the party's coordinator, Narek Karapetyan, stated in a press release that the candidate had been determined long ago.
So, who will be the "Strong Armenia" Party's candidate for Prime Minister?
The Armenian media has clarified rumors regarding former Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan potentially being a candidate.
It was stated that Karen Karapetyan cannot be nominated as a candidate for Prime Minister because he does not meet the residency requirement. This is because he violated the residency requirement – he has not lived in Armenia for at least six months (180 days) per year.
It should be recalled that for candidates for the position of Prime Minister, having exclusive citizenship of the Republic of Armenia and residing in the country for at least six months per year is a mandatory requirement. In other words, the person must have lived in Armenia for at least 180 days each year during the last four years.
As for Samvel Karapetyan, the party's patron, he is a citizen of several countries and, at best, can be included in the list of candidates for the Council of Elders.
Considering the aforementioned, the Armenian media names Narek Karapetyan as the most probable candidate for the position of Prime Minister, who has recently managed to gain widespread recognition and significant public favor. He currently serves as the coordinator of the "Strong Armenia" Party.
It should be recalled that parliamentary elections in Armenia will be held from June 2 to 12, 2026, and the only Sunday during this period will be June 7.
A.Qorxmaz
