Yerevan City Council Meeting Promises to be Heated: ‘My Step’ Faction Following in the Footsteps of the Republican Party

On September 8, the Yerevan City Council meeting is expected to be heated. As known, that day is scheduled for the election of the Deputy Mayor of Yerevan, for which a lively process is anticipated. Additionally, controversial and dissatisfaction-inducing changes are planned to be made regarding the procedures for conducting City Council meetings.

Firstly, it is proposed to change the question-and-answer regime with the heads of administrative districts and the city hall staff, stating that these will occur every two months instead of monthly. As justification, the draft mentions that the City Council procedure will now allow speeches on agenda-related issues. This change has been criticized the most by opposition factions, which deemed monthly Q&A sessions very important.

Moreover, previously, during the Republican Party's rule, it was on the insistence of the 'Yelk' faction members of the City Council that the change was made to enable monthly Q&A sessions. Now, in fact, the ruling 'My Step' faction is following in the footsteps of the Republican Party by worsening the procedures.

Furthermore, the ruling faction seeks to eliminate the right of faction leaders to have emergency speeches, reserving that right for the entire faction. Given that it is evident that Hayk Marutyan aims to silence the few opposition members of the City Council, this discussion of changes is expected to be naturally heated.