The National Assembly again failed to elect Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister in the second round, as was anticipated; thus, in accordance with the Constitution, the Seventh Convocation National Assembly is dissolved by force of law.
According to Armenpress, at the special session convened for the election of the prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who had been nominated as a candidate for prime minister by at least one-third of the total number of deputies, did not receive sufficient votes to be elected. One deputy voted “for” and one voted “against” his candidacy, while 76 deputies voted “abstain.”
Sixty-seven “for” votes were required for the election of the prime minister.
This is the second time in the history of independent Armenia that the National Assembly has been dissolved before the end of its term. In November 2018, following the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the parliament was dissolved through the same procedure.
Nikol Pashinyan was the sole candidate for prime minister. His candidacy was nominated by the “My Step” faction of the National Assembly. Nikol Pashinyan’s candidacy for the post of prime minister had also been put forward in the first round of the prime ministerial election, but it was of a formal nature, since on April 25, by submitting his resignation from the post of prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan initiated the process of dissolving parliament by force of law and holding early parliamentary elections. At the regular session of the National Assembly on May 3, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had not been elected to the post of prime minister.
Early elections for the National Assembly are scheduled to be held in Armenia on June 20.
