366.2
3 minute read
The first session of the newly elected parliament began on Sunday, with eight items on the agenda.
Ahead of the election of the Speaker, the session will be chaired by the most senior MP, Knyaz Hasanov.
Three political forces are represented in the Ninth Convocation of the National Assembly: the Civil Contract Party with 64 seats, the opposition Strong Armenia Alliance with 29 seats, and the Armenia Alliance with 12 seats. The parliament has 105 seats.
The Civil Contract Party holds a stable majority.
President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan is expected to deliver an address at the opening session. The MPs will then take the oath of office.
The agenda for the first sitting provides for the establishment of the Counting Committee, after which parliament will proceed with the election of the Speaker.
Each parliamentary faction has the right to nominate a candidate for Speaker. The Speaker is elected by secret ballot by a majority of the total number of MPs. A candidate must receive at least 53 votes to be elected.
The Civil Contract Party earlier said it would nominate Ruben Rubinyan for the post of Speaker. The party's board has selected Hayk Konjoryan and Vahagn Aleksanyan as its candidates for the posts of deputy speaker.
The National Assembly has three deputy speakers, one of whom must be nominated from among members of the opposition factions. The deputy speakers are elected separately by secret ballot, and each must receive at least 53 votes to be elected.
During the first sitting, the National Assembly will determine the number, names, areas of responsibility, and total membership of its standing committees, after which it will elect their chairpersons.
The agenda also includes a separate item on the establishment of the Ethics Committee. Under amendments to the Constitutional Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly adopted in July 2026, the Ethics Committee of the newly elected parliament must be established during its first sitting.