Armenia's Ruling Party Undecided on Justice Minister as Ally of Pashinyan, Arpi Davoyan, Pushes for Role Despite No Legal Background
Armenia's ruling Civil Contract party is still struggling to decide who will fill the role of the next justice minister following the resignation of Grigor Minasyan earlier this month. Minasyan stepped down on October 1, just days after over a dozen members of his own party signed a petition urging Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to dismiss him. Although a key figure within the party, Arpi Davoyan, reportedly led the effort to remove him, the ruling party has not yet agreed on her proposed candidacy to replace him.
Minasyan's resignation came after increasing pressure from members of the ruling Civil Contract party. A petition signed by more than a dozen parliament members called for his dismissal, with Arpi Davoyan, a loyal party member, leading the charge. Davoyan, a strong supporter of Prime Minister Pashinyan, has been outspoken about her belief that the next justice minister should be someone from within their political circle. Following Minasyan’s departure, she openly proposed herself for the position.
Despite her enthusiasm, however, the party’s leadership has not yet reached a consensus. At a party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Pashinyan, Davoyan's appointment was discussed, but only two board members—Defense Minister Suren Papikyan and the party’s deputy chairman, Vahagn Aleksanyan—supported her candidacy. Other senior figures within the party declined to be considered for the role, and as of now, no final decision has been made regarding who will take over the position.
The exact reasons behind the push for Minasyan’s resignation remain unclear. Some within the party have expressed dissatisfaction with his staffing policies, suggesting that internal disagreements may have played a role. Others, including pro-government lawmaker Hovik Aghazaryan, pointed to Minasyan’s family connections as a potential factor in his removal. Minasyan’s father, Ara, and brother, Mikael, fled Armenia in 2018 to avoid prosecution on corruption charges. Mikael Minasyan, a son-in-law of former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, held significant political and economic influence during Sargsyan’s presidency.
Grigor Minasyan, for his part, has distanced himself from his family members and their legal troubles, pledging his loyalty to the current Armenian government long before his resignation. Despite this, some party members may have been uneasy about his ties to the former regime, contributing to the push for his ousting.
Arpi Davoyan, who initiated the petition against Minasyan, is a founding member of the Civil Contract party and a staunch ally of Prime Minister Pashinyan. A school psychologist by training, the 39-year-old has no formal legal background but is reportedly close to completing her law degree from an Armenian university. Her loyalty to Pashinyan is well known within the party, and her push for the justice minister role reflects her strong desire to take on a more prominent position within the government.
Despite her dedication, Davoyan’s candidacy has not been universally embraced within the party. While she has the backing of some key figures, others have remained silent or have refrained from offering public support. Additionally, Davoyan has not commented on the situation since the meeting, and her future in the race for the justice minister position remains uncertain.
As of now, the Civil Contract party has not confirmed who will be the next justice minister. Vahagn Aleksanyan, the party’s deputy chairman, acknowledged that no candidate has been approved by the party’s governing board, indicating that the search for Minasyan’s replacement is ongoing. Prime Minister Pashinyan has also not made any public comments regarding the resignation or the selection of the next minister.
This uncertainty leaves a significant gap in Armenia’s Ministry of Justice, which plays a crucial role in overseeing the country’s legal system and implementing government policies. The delay in naming a successor could impact the ministry’s operations and delay important reforms.
With no official decision yet, all eyes are on Prime Minister Pashinyan and the Civil Contract party to see who will take on the role of Armenia’s next justice minister.
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