YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The Supreme Body of Armenian Revolutionary Federation party, aka Dashnaktsutyun, or the ARF, has confirmed its proportional list for the upcoming December 9 general election in Armenia.

ARF Bureau member, lawmaker Armen Rustamyan, ARF Armenia Supreme Body representative Arsen Hambardzumyan and ex-minister of agriculture Arthur Khachatryan are the top three candidates on the list, according to Yerkir media.

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