Armenian parliament opens special session to elect Prime Minister (updates)

13.05

In his speech at the parliament session, Sargsyan, also the leader of the Republican Party, expressed a strong commitment to promote the economy’s dynamic development (in case of being elected), highlighting the political “majority’s support to his candidacy” .

“Today we are electing the prime minister of the parliamentary republic. This is our first election, and hence we do not objectively have much experience to consider what perspectives we need to really focus on, and what priorities need to be taken into consideration. But the logic behind the election is clear; it stems from the Constitution, as well as the political experience of the state governed by the parliamentary model,” he said, highlighting the equal responsibility principle.

“Under conditions of this system, the leader of the political force which formed a political majority in parliament becomes the prime minister. And this wasn’t absolutely an incidental decision. It is aimed at ensuring the political leader's personal responsibility for the specific political force,” he added.

12.17

Ninety-one out of the 103 registered lawmakers are attending the session. NA President Ara Babloyan confirmed the quorum.

The leader of the opposition Tsarukyan bloc, Gagik Tsarukyan, has not joined the hearing.

Introducing the only candidate, nominated by the governing coalition, the leader of the RPA faction, Vahram Sahakyan, described today’s session as a “historic moment”.

“Among the economic reforms implemented by Serzh Sargsyan, of special importance is particularly the transition from the semi-presidential to a parliamentary [republic],” he said, appreciating also the former president’s role also in the strengthening the Armenia-Diaspora-Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) ties.

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Amid the continuing opposition protests against the third president’s nomination for Prime Minister, the National Assembly on Tuesday opened its special session to consider Serzh Sargsyan’s election.

The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) on Saturday approved Sargsyan’s candidacy at a joint session held with the coalition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D).

The public protests, led by Nikol Pashinyan, an opposition MP from the political bloc Yelk, have been continuing since Friday. Pashinyan rallied a crowd of supporters in France Square after a 14-day march from the second largest city of Gyumri to Yerevan.

Clashes erupted between the police and the demonstrators outside the National Assembly on Monday.

Opposition lawmakers from the Bright Armenia and Republic parties (political forces represented in Yelk) are attending the parliament session despite the continuing rally.