After weeks of mass protest in Armenia, re is no end to crisis in first place: opposition politician Nikol Paschinjan failed in election to new head of government in Armenian Parliament. Only 45 deputies voted for him – for an election he would have needed 53 of 105 votes. According to Constitution, Parliament must now re-vote within a week.
if ( typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’ !window.Zeit.isMobileView()) { if ( !document.getElementById( ‘iqadtile8’ ) ) { var elem = document.createElement( ‘div’ ); elem.id = ‘iqadtile8’; elem.className = “ad ad-desktop ad-desktop–8 ad-desktop–8-on-article”; elem.setAttribute(‘data-banner-type’, ‘desktop’); document.getElementById(‘ad-desktop-8’).parentNode.appendChild(elem); AdController.render(‘iqadtile8’); if ( window.console typeof window.console.info === ‘function’ ) { window.console.info(‘AdController ‘ AdController.VERSION ‘ tile 8 desktop’) } } } if ( typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’ window.Zeit.isMobileView()) { if ( !document.getElementById( ‘iqadtile3’ ) ) { var elem = document.createElement( ‘div’ ); elem.id = ‘iqadtile3’; elem.className = “ad ad-mobile ad-mobile–3 ad-mobile–3-on-article”; elem.setAttribute(‘data-banner-type’, ‘mobile’); document.getElementById(‘ad-mobile-3’).parentNode.appendChild(elem); AdController.render(‘iqadtile3’); if ( window.console typeof window.console.info === ‘function’ ) { window.console.info(‘AdController ‘ AdController.VERSION ‘ tile 3 mobile’) } } }
After special session of Parliament in Yerevan, Paschinjan called for a general strike and protests. His followers should block roads, train routes and airports, said Paschinjan. He had warned before vote before a “political tsunami”, he should not be elected.
Paschinjan was only candidate for office. Previously, Bundestag group chief of so far ruling Republican Party, Wagram Bagdasarjan, had announced that his party would vote against Paschinjan. The party of former head of government Serzh Sargsyan has 58 of 105 mandates and thus an absolute majority. Paschinjan was supported by several small parties.
The 42-year-old had mobilized tens of thousands of followers in recent weeks and forced Prime Minister Serzh Sargsjan to resign. The opposition speaks of a “velvet Revolution”. The reason for protests is a constitutional reform that has recently entered into force. It gives prime Minister, and thus Kremlin-supported Sargsjan, much more power. According to opponents, change makes Sargsjan de facto ruler of life.
