In Armenia, Parliament rejected the street's prime minister

As a result of last month's protests in Yerevan, the Armenian Parliament held today a special session to elect a new prime minister. Nikol Pashinyan, the leader of the street opposition, was the only candidate to be elected as Prime Minister of Armenia. The head of Yelk faction Nikol Pashinyan, was the common candidate of the ooposition factions (Yelk, ARF and Tsarukyan). The debates in the plenary session were tense. The speech of the candidate has avoided strong themes and was neutral, without major changes, especially in foreign policy. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), witch has majority in Parliament, has decided to vote against the opposition candidate.

In his favor voted only 45 deputies.

In his speech as a candidate in Parliament, Nikol Pashinyan presented the following milestones of his foreign political programme: „Armenia will not make turns in the foreign policy domain; it will remain a member of the EAEU and the CSTO. This position does not stem from a person’s taste, but the logic of the movement that brought victory to the people. Demanding numerous changes in domestic life, the people did not and do not demand any change in foreign policy domain. We considered and consider Russia the strategic ally of Armenia, and this movement does not pose any threat to the RF. We will deepen relations with the European Union and the EU member countries. We will do everything for the RA citizens toward the EU visa regime abolition; we expect to start negotiations on it in the nearest future. The soonest implementation of the EU-Armenia agreement stems from our own interests. The government that I will head will deepen relations with the US, China, will remain committed to the process of [Armenian] Genocide recognition; Armenia will continue playing the role of the pioneer on this matter. Stereotypes in the NK conflict negotiation process are not mandatory for us. On the Karabakh issue we are committed exclusively to a pacific settlement, on the basis of which should lie the precept of peoples’ self-determination. New impetus should be given to the process of Artsakh’s international recognition”.

A particular importance in this context will be the reaction of the street to the failure of its leader. It is very possible the deepening of the political crisis in the country.

Over the next 7 days, new elections will take place for the prime minister of the country.