The National Assembly’s Strong Armenia faction has nominated David Ghazinyan to chair the Standing Committee on Territorial Administration and Environmental Protection.
“I will not ask you to elect me, I will not urge or demand it, but if elected, I am ready to cooperate with everyone,” he said.
In his speech, Ghazinyan outlined his observations and concerns regarding territorial administration and transport.
He noted that although the number of communities has fallen from 915 to 70, no substantive change has taken place. He expressed particular concern about the practice of the prime minister appointing acting heads of communities.
“The expansion of the central government’s levers… raises very serious questions from the standpoint of the principles of local autonomy and democratic legitimacy,” he said.
Addressing road construction, the candidate stressed that the sector should not be limited solely to asphalt paving. He recalled that Armenia has remained on the European Union’s aviation safety “blacklist” since 2020 and that the issue has yet to be resolved.
“Managing the road transport system is not about managing asphalt… A road should not end with the signing of a construction acceptance certificate,” he said.
The committee chair nominated by the opposition cannot be elected without votes from the Civil Contract faction. The parliamentary majority has not yet said whether it will support the candidates nominated by the opposition.
The faction has nominated candidates to chair both the Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environmental Protection and the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs. Strong Armenia will also have the opportunity to nominate a chair for the Standing Committee on European Integration.
