A parliamentary election should be held in Armenia on June 7 next year. However, an early election is not ruled out.
Medianews.az reports that the term of the Armenian parliament, consisting of at least 101 members, is 5 years. The current legislative body, elected on June 20, 2021, has 107 members. The ruling Civil Contract Party of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan holds 69 seats in parliament, the opposition forces — the Armenia bloc affiliated with former president Robert Kocharyan — have 28, the "I am Proud" bloc affiliated with former president Serzh Sargsyan has 6 mandates. Four deputies are non-affiliated.
In the parliament elected by party lists (proportional system), the representation of at least three political forces is required. The political force that obtains more than half of the mandates can form the government.
The Constitution of Armenia also allows for early parliamentary elections. According to the Constitution, after the prime minister resigns, the parliament must elect a new head of government within two weeks. Otherwise, the legislative body is dissolved and an early parliamentary election is held. During this time, both the parliament and the government continue to exercise their powers.
During Nikol Pashinyan's tenure as prime minister, this path has been taken twice.
Nikol Pashinyan, born in 1975, founded the Civil Contract Party in 2013. In 2017, the "Yelk" bloc created by this organization together with two other parties won 9 mandates in parliament.
From March 31, 2018, Nikol Pashinyan led the popular movement against Serzh Sargsyan, then president of Armenia, becoming prime minister. On April 9, Serzh Sargsyan's presidential term ended. On the same day, the country switched to a parliamentary system, transferring executive power leadership to the prime minister. On April 17, Serzh Sargsyan took the prime minister's seat but resigned on April 23, unable to withstand public protests.
Nikol Pashinyan assumed the prime minister's office on May 8.
On October 16 of that year, Nikol Pashinyan resigned. Since no new prime minister was elected within two weeks, the parliament was dissolved. In the early parliamentary elections held on December 9, Nikol Pashinyan's "My Step" bloc won and formed a new government.
On April 25, 2021, Nikol Pashinyan again resigned to initiate early parliamentary elections. Since no new prime minister was elected within two weeks, the parliament was dissolved, and in the early parliamentary elections held on June 20, the Civil Contract Party won and formed a new government.
Toğrul Ali,
Medianews.az
