Armenian President Armen Sargsyan announced his resignation on Sunday, citing a lack of power as head of state.
“This is not an emotional decision, it has some rationale,” the statement said in a statement on the president’s website.
“The president does not have the necessary tools to influence important foreign and domestic policy processes for the nation and the country at a difficult time,” Sargsyan, 69, said.
In Armenia, the president has mostly ceremonial functions, but the prime minister has more power.
“The reality is that the president cannot veto laws he considers bad for the people and the state,” Sargsyan said.
He also hoped that constitutional reforms would take place in Armenia to increase the president’s powers.
During his tenure, Sargsyan has repeatedly clashed with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
According to the constitution, parliament must elect a new president within 35 days.
From 1996 to 1997, Sargsyan was prime minister. He was elected president in 2018.
The term of office of the President of Armenia is seven years. The President may not run for a second term.
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