MPs reject Pashinyan’s candidacy for post of prime minister of Armenia

Following an agreement with the ruling faction, oppositional members of the Armenian parliament, did not elect Nikol Pashinyan as the prime minister in order to provide conditions for the dissolution of the Armenian parliament and early parliamentary elections.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that according to the agreements with the opposition, MPs were to reject Nikol Pashinyan’s candidacy and thus ensure the appointment of repeated parliamentary elections. However, if the opposition does not comply with the agreements, at the second stage of the voting, the parliamentary majority can elect a prime minister and thus cancel early elections.

In order to comply with the agreements on holding early elections scheduled for June 20, MPs should twice reject electing the chair of the government, recalls Lilit Makunts, the leader of the “My Step” faction. She has added that in order to implement the above agreements, the ruling faction formally nominated Nikol Pashinyan for the post of prime minister.

Nikol Pashinyan has confirmed his intention to follow the agreements. However, he has noted that if the agreements are violated and the opposition nominates its candidate at the second stage of the prime minister’s elections, then the ruling faction will elect him as the chair of the government.

The second stage of the voting on the candidacy of the prime minister will take place on May 10, the “Sputnik Armenia” reports.