Lawmakers don’t elect Pashinyan as PM in first round

The Armenian parliament voted down Nikol Pashinyan’s candidacy as prime minister in the first round of elections held at today’s regular session.

No MP voted in favor, 1 lawmaker voted against, while 11 others abstained.

The Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) factions did not take part in the voting, while Yelk faction abstained.

Yelk nominated Acting Prime Minister Pashinyan’s candidacy for the post as a formality to fully comply with the constitutional procedure.

Pashinyan tendered his technical resignation on October 16 to pave way for the dissolution of parliament and conduct of early elections.

Under the Armenian law, the National Assembly can be dissolved only if the prime minister resigns and lawmakers twice fail to elect his or her replacement within two weeks.