ArmInfo. Representatives of the Armenian National Congress have slammed the program of the new Cabinet, thanking Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan for "a very positive step" i.e. dismissal of the malicious corrupt and criminal officials. ANC Parliamentary Faction Secretary Aram Manukyan said in the parliament the Government program says nothing about the 4-fold increase in the debt burden, 7-fold reduction of investments for the last 4 years, outflow of capital, business and human resources.
He said the program of Karen Karapetyan's Cabinet like the previous government programs resemble a manifestation of good intentions, promises that remained on paper. For instance, Manukyan recalled the promise to complete the Gyumri restoration project in 2017. "In the meantime, the new government's program envisages no financing of the given project in 2017," Manukyan said. Head of ANC Parliamentary Faction Levon Zurabyan said Karen Karapetyan's appointed as prime minister of Armenia violated the Constitution. "Under the Constitution, the president appoints the prime minister after consultations with the parliamentary parties, while no such consultations were held with ANC," he said.
Zurabyan doubts the prime minister's sincere intentions to fight legal outrage in the government. Instead, the oppositionist thinks the new prime minister may do this changes to save the face of the authorities ahead of the parliamentary elections.
He criticized the program for lacking the vision of the economic model the new Cabinet is going to build. Besides, Zurabyan blamed the prime minister for not inquiring into the embezzlements in the government before his appointment.