Armenian parliament to choose new prime minister after people's revolt

12:43, 01.05.2018

Armenian lawmakers vote to elect a new prime minister on Tuesday, with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan vying to fill the role after leading a fortnight of protests that brought down Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan.

Pashinyan spent Monday negotiating with all political forces, including Sarksyan’s ruling Republican Party, which still holds a majority in parliament. He may be the only candidate for the premier post, but Pashinyan is still six votes short of the 53 he needs from the 105-seat legislature.

Speaking to AFP in an interview Monday, Pashinyan said Armenians want to determine the future of their country and a ratcheting up of tensions was just a matter of time. “People should have genuine possibilities to influence the political situation and political decisions,” he said.

But he is well aware that without a mass resignation of ruling party members from parliament, he has very little chance of victory on May 1. Pashinyan has called for the resignations of ruling party MPs and for early parliamentary elections to be held “as soon as possible”.

World

Armenian parliament

Nikol Pashinyan

Prime Minister