Protests in Armenia: PM calls on supporters to stick up for early elections


On Tuesday night, thousands of people took part in a rally responding to the call of Prime Minister Nicol Pashinyan, the leader of the Armenian revolution. The politician fears that Armenian MPs may thwart the announcement of early elections.

It all started with voting on the amendments to the law on the national assembly regulations. According to Pashinyan, adopting the amendments will narrow down the possibility of dissoluting the parliament. Meanwhile, early election is one of the highlights of his program.

Yesterday three parliamentary factions voted for amendments that would allow for breaking off parliamentary sessions – in the event of an extraordinary situation or MPs’ having trouble reaching the plenary. The deputies are trying to secure themselves against further revolutionary situations in the country, Pashinyan believes. The Republican Party of Armenia that is linked to the previous authorities voted in favour of the amendments; so did the Dashnak party and the Flourishing Armenia party that are in the government coalition with pro-Pashinyan party YELQ. Only deputies who represent this party were against.

The politician considered the voting a split and called supporters of the new law ‘counter-revolutionaries’. He also dismissed ministers belonging to parties that voted in favour and urged president Armen Sarkissian not to sign it. The Armenian PM also decided to directly address the nation over the issue. He called on his adherers on Facebook to come to the parliament building and headed for the talks with representatives of the parliamentary factions.

The politician also warns that there may be no early elections at all. In accordance with the Constitution, the parliament can be dissolved only if there have been two cases of the lack of a new candidate for the post of an outgoing prime minister. Pashinyan, who would have to resign, deems it possible that the other parties will put forward another candidate and early elections will not take place. However, if the result of the talks is anything to go by,the leaders of all parliamentary groups have announced that they are not going to nominate their candidates for the post.

jb/belsat.eu following azatutyun.am

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