Two opposition groups boycott Yerevan municipal council meeting

The new Yerevan City Council started its inaugural meeting on Tuesday morning to appoint the next mayor of the Armenian capital.

37 councilors from the ruing Civil Contact party, Republic Party and Public Voice Party of U.S.-based blogger Vardan Ghukasyan registered for the meeting boycotted by the Mother Armenia bloc led by former opposition MP Andranik Tevanyan and former Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan’s National Progress Party.

According to the results of the September 17 Yerevan municipal elections, Civil Contract party gained 24 seats, National Progress – 14 seats, Mother Armenia – 12 seats, Republic Party – 8 seats and Public Voice Party – 7 seats in the municipal council.

Since none of them won an absolute majority, the Yerevan City Council is set to elect a new mayor within the next two weeks, otherwise the council will be dissolved and new elections will be held.