Armenia Parliament Elects Opposition Leader Pashinyan as PM

Corruption is Everywhere - but can it be uprooted in Armenia?

By Sara Shayanian (UPI)

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was elected by lawmakers Tuesday to become the nation's next prime minister, a bid that has been underway for weeks. Photo by Zurab Kurtsikdze/EPA-EFE

Armenia's Parliament on Tuesday elected opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan to become the country's next prime minister.

Lawmakers elected Pashinyan by a 59-42 vote after the leader of the ruling Republican Party, Vahram Baghdasarian, announced his party would give Pashinyan 11 votes -- which helped put him over the top.

Pashinyan was set to meet Armenian President Armen Sarkisian Tuesday to formally sign into power the appointment. He then has five days to propose a cabinet and two weeks to submit his government program for approval.

"All people are equal before the law. There will be no people enjoying privileges in Armenia. That's it. Full stop," the newly elected prime minister said, reaffirming support for human rights protections and an end to corruption.

The previous prime minister, Serzh Sargsyan, resigned last month after just six days in office. He'd been the target of anti-corruption protests.

After failing to get enough votes from the National Assembly, Pashinyan called on supporters to block streets, airports, the railway and other public transportation. He later called off the demonstrations after the ruling party assured him of its support in his bid for prime minister.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his congratulations Tuesday, saying he hoped the election will "contribute to efforts to further strengthen friendly, allied relations between our countries."

Armenia, a small country in the Caucasus region straddling Europe and Asia, is a former Soviet republic bounded by Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran.

Gunless Coup in Armenia

Armenian Prime Minister resigns after protests

By Hilary Clarke, CNN

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, has stepped down following days of mass demonstrations in the streets of the capital Yerevan over what was seen as an unconstitutional power grab by the former president.

Sargsyan previously served two, five-year terms as president of the former Soviet Republic. First elected in 2008, he served as the country's head of state until he was appointed prime minister earlier this month.

Over the weekend Nikol Pashinyan, an opposition MP and leader of the protests, was arrested but was released Monday shortly before the announcement.

Pashinyan was the editor of Armenia's best-selling daily liberal newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak (The Armenian Times). He was often critical of Sargsyan and his predecessor, and his activism got him about two years in jail.

Armenian policemen detain an opposition supporter during a rally in central Yerevan on April 21, 2018, held to protest former president Serzh Sargsyan's election as prime minister.

"Nikol Pashinyan was right. I was wrong," Sargsyan said in a statement published on the state-owned Armenpress website.

"The situation has several solutions, but I will not take any of them. That is not mine. I am leaving office of the country's leader, of Prime Minister. The street movement is against my tenure. I am fulfilling your demand. Peace, harmony and reasoning for our country," he said.

Sargsyan took office as Prime Minister after being elected by parliament on April 17, eight days after his presidency ended.

His handpicked successor, Armen Sargsyan, no relation, was sworn in as President on April 9.

Under constitutional changes promoted by Serzh Sargsyan in 2015, the office of prime minister in Armenia became more powerful than that of president leading to concern of authoritarian rule descending on the country.

Sargsyan had previously said he would not try to become prime minster.

Nikol Pashinyan

Reports and video posted on social media showed scenes of jubilation in the capital Yerevan.

Sargsyan, 63, was a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

I have to admit, giving more power to the Prime Minister, then getting the person you appointed as President to appoint you as Prime Minister does sound like something Putin would do. I suspect he's disappointed in Sargsyan resignation and concerned about what new elections might bring. I hope neither NATO nor George Soros are behind this; it could turn very ugly. Pashinyan has called for new elections.

You have to admire a man who sees the writing on the wall and steps aside before thing turn nasty. Well done, Mr Sargsyan.