Armenia’s new parliament convened Thursday
Leadership Changes in Parliament with New Speaker
YEREVAN””Armenia’s new parliament convened on Thursday, with President Serzh Sarkisian reappointing Karan Karapetyan as prime minister. The parliament elected former health minister Ara Babloyan as its speaker.
The Republican Party of Armenia’s Eduard Sharmazanov was re-elected as deputy speaker along with Armenia’s former justice minister Arpine Hovannesyan.
Following the April 2 parliamentary elections, which ushered in the new 105-member legislative body, Armenia is on its way to becoming a parliamentary government in accordance with the new constitution, which was adopted in 2015. The transition will be completed in March 2018 when Sarkisian’s term will end and parliament will elect a new president, who will have a symbolic role with most powers falling on the shoulders of the prime minister and parliament.
After the new parliamentary session convened, Sarkisian signed a decree re-appointing Karapetyan as prime minister. He has pledged widespread economic reforms in Armenia as a way to elevate the country from its current socio-economic woes, which include large scale emigration. As is customary, the entire cabinet resigned in anticipation of a new government, which will be announced in coming days.
New Parliament speaker Ara Babloyan
The Republican Party of Armenia has 58 seats in the new parliament along with seven seats held by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which signed a coalition agreement with the ruling party last week strapping itself into a partnership until the 2022 parliamentary election. Businessman Gagik Tsarukian’s bloc and the opposition Yelk bloc have 31 and nine seats respectively.
The first session of the new parliament included prayers and blessings by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
President Sarkisian delivered a speech that aimed at advancing the principles of the new constitution and a rallying cry for collective efforts to advance and strengthen Armenia.
“We have put in place new constitutional structures and orders after a heated debate. The goal of these changes is to have a more balanced, effective, accountable and consolidated power. As to how we are successful in achieving this goal will largely depend on people in this chamber,”
