Avinyan to run for parliament by district list from Yerevan’s Arabkir, Ajapnyak and Davitashen

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan will run for parliament in the upcoming snap election by district lists from Yerevan’s Arabkir, Ajapnyak and Davitashen districts.

“I will be nominated in the second electoral district – in the Arabkir, Ajapnyak and Davitashen administrative districts”, he said.

He said there is no principle issue behind where he, caretaker First Deputy PM Ararat Mirzoyan, or other caretaker Cabinet members should get nominated from.

The early general election will take place December 9.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resigned on October 16 to trigger the process of disbanding the parliament.

Pashinyan took office after massive protests in April forced president-turned PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign. But Sargsyan’s Republican Party (HHK) still has most seats in the 105-seat parliament. Since taking office, Nikol Pashinyan has numerously said that the incumbent parliament doesn’t represent the people and that early elections should take place as soon as possible.

In accordance to the Constitution, when a Prime Minister resigns the parliament must elect a new PM within two weeks. Lawmakers deliberately failed to elect a new PM as a formality in order to pave the way for dissolution.

The last round took place on November 1 and the parliament was dissolved by virtue of law.

Later on the same day, President Armen Sarkissian signed an order on dissolving the parliament and calling early elections on December 9.

The parliament will function until the new parliament is elected.

The government is formally a caretaker government until a new government is formed after the election.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan