Armenian Protest Leader Elected Prime Minister
Faizan Hashmi Published May 08, 2018 | 06:20 PM
Yerevan, May 8 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th May, 2018 ) :Armenia's parliament on Tuesday elected opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister after he spearheaded weeks of mass protests against the ruling party, transforming the country's political landscape.
Lawmakers voted 59 to 42 to approve Pashinyan for the job, after the ruling Republican Party came around to backing his premiership bid on his second attempt. The party had narrowly voted him down last week, plunging the Caucasus nation into its most serious political crisis in years.
"My first work after my election will be ensuring a normal life in the country," Pashinyan said ahead of the vote. "There will be no corruption in Armenia. Armenia will once and for all turn the page of political persecutions." The 42 year-old added that Armenia's relations with Russia will "remain a priority".
"Military cooperation with Russia is an important factor in ensuring our country's security," Pashinyan said, referring to a two-decade long conflict his country is locked in with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
"We will (also) be developing relations with European countries and the United States, with Iran and Georgia, China and India," he added. Armenia is an ally of Russia, and Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulated Pashinyan in a statement released by the Kremlin on Tuesday.
- 'Ensuring stability' - The head of the ruling Republican Party's parliamentary faction, Vagram Bagdasaryan, said his party backed Pashinyan to "ensure stability" in the country. "We did not change our position.
We are against Nikol Pashinyan's candidacy, but the most important thing for us is to ensure stability in the country," Bagdasaryan said ahead of the vote. Pashinyan called for an end to the protests after the Republicans -- who have 58 MPs in the 105-seat legislature -- promised to back him in the second attempt.
The 42-year-old former newspaper editor also secured the support of two other major political parties -- Prosperous Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) -- which nominated him for the post together with his opposition Elk coalition.
Pashinyan was the only candidate for the premiership. On Tuesday morning, ahead of the vote, thousands of Pashinyan supporters gathered in Yerevan's central Republic Square, sporting white T-shirts with their leader's portrait or dancing traditional Armenian dances and chanting "Nikol prime minister".
Political analysts say Pashinyan's election is unlikely to put an end to the political crisis, as the ruling party retains a majority in parliament and could well block his initiatives.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
PCB proposes April 7 -May 20 window; tweaks in rules for HBL PSL 2025
Field hospitals now operational across Punjab: Azma Bukhari
More Stories From World
-
European Champions Cup semi-final result
10 minutes ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
10 minutes ago -
Tennis: WTA Madrid Open results
10 minutes ago -
Formula One: Miami Grand Prix sprint race results
20 minutes ago -
Barca have 'huge amount' to change next season: coach Xavi
20 minutes ago -
Haaland 'back to business' with four-goal haul in Man City rout of Wolves
30 minutes ago
-
Newcomer Bellingham Madrid's driving force in La Liga conquest
40 minutes ago -
Girona players have made history, says coach after reaching Champions League
40 minutes ago -
Reus begins farewell tour while Bayern stumble in Stuttgart
60 minutes ago -
Real Madrid La Liga title win in numbers
1 hour ago -
Real Madrid clinch Liga title after Girona beat Barca
2 hours ago -
Spain and Argentina at loggerheads in diplomatic spat
2 hours ago