Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presents his government’s program to parliament on Thursday
YEREVAN—By a vote of 62 to 35 Armenia’s National Assembly on Thursday approved the program of the new government headed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who in presenting the program, prioritized early parliamentary elections, fight against corruption and restoring the rule of law for all citizens of Armenia.
Pashinyan, who was elected prime minister on May 8 after weeks-long protests that toppled the decade-long regime of former president Serzh Sarkisian, said that formation of power in the country would take place exclusively through the free expression of the people’s will, national unity and rule of law, where every Armenian citizen will be equal in the eyes of the law.
Members of the Republican Party of Armenia, headed by Sarkisian, voted overwhelmingly against the government program, with 12 of its members voting in favor the Pashinyan plan. The party no longer holds a majority in parliament after six of its members defected or were ousted from its parliamentary faction.
He also stressed the importance of combatting corruption, separating politics from business and commerce, protecting human rights and increasing and guaranteeing security for Armenia and Artsakh as a way to bolster Armenia’s internal and external safety. All these efforts, he said, were the basis to ensuring and creating favorable conditions for Armenian citizens to live a happy and dignified existence.
“The absence of artificial economic monopolies, protection of economic competitiveness, a real opportunity to be engaged in one’s desired economic activity, ensuring the inclusive growth of the economy, overcoming poverty, constantly advancing the education level and social standing of citizens, public rejection of violence, protection of environment and reasonable use of natural resources are a priority for our government,â€
