Armenian opposition leader declares nation-wide strike
02.05.2018,
05:20
Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan called for a general strike after the Republican Party of former prime minister and two-time president Serzh Sargsyan voted against his bid to be the country's next prime minister.
YEREVAN, May 1. /ARKA/. Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan called for a general strike after the Republican Party of former prime minister and two-time president Serzh Sargsyan voted against his bid to be the country's next prime minister on May 1.
He needed 53 votes from the 105-seat Armenian National Assembly to secure the premiership, but received 45 votes.
"Mr. Pashinyan, I don't see you at the post of prime minister, I don't see you at the post of commander-in-chief," said Eduard Sharmazanov, deputy speaker of parliament and Republican spokesman.
"Tomorrow, at 8:15 am, all roads, highways, including interstate, the underground, the airports, the railways- all transport communications, everything that can be blocked, will be blocked," Pashinyan said to tens of thousands of his supporters at a rally in Yerevan.
He also called on students of educational institutions to join the nation-wide strike. The anti-government protesters will again gather at the Republic Square at 7 pm today.
"The Armenia you knew and ruled is no longer," Pashinyan said, addressing the Republican Party. "You still have time to redeem yourselves, but if not you will be will be the reason for the tsunami that will result on our country's streets."
"There will be no retreat, we will continue to free Armenia centimeter by centimeter ... Our victory recorded the birth of a new Armenia, where all power belongs to the people," he said.
Pashinyan called on law enforcement officers to join the protesters. He also thanked the Tsarukyan bloc, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun and the Yelk bloc for supporting the people’s candidacy in the parliament.
According to the Constitution of Armenia, in case prime minister is not elected, new election is to be held seven days after the vote. A candidate must be backed by at least one third of the total number of deputies. If no prime minister is elected by a majority vote, then the National Assembly dissolves and new election is to be held. -0-.
He needed 53 votes from the 105-seat Armenian National Assembly to secure the premiership, but received 45 votes.
"Mr. Pashinyan, I don't see you at the post of prime minister, I don't see you at the post of commander-in-chief," said Eduard Sharmazanov, deputy speaker of parliament and Republican spokesman.
"Tomorrow, at 8:15 am, all roads, highways, including interstate, the underground, the airports, the railways- all transport communications, everything that can be blocked, will be blocked," Pashinyan said to tens of thousands of his supporters at a rally in Yerevan.
He also called on students of educational institutions to join the nation-wide strike. The anti-government protesters will again gather at the Republic Square at 7 pm today.
"The Armenia you knew and ruled is no longer," Pashinyan said, addressing the Republican Party. "You still have time to redeem yourselves, but if not you will be will be the reason for the tsunami that will result on our country's streets."
"There will be no retreat, we will continue to free Armenia centimeter by centimeter ... Our victory recorded the birth of a new Armenia, where all power belongs to the people," he said.
Pashinyan called on law enforcement officers to join the protesters. He also thanked the Tsarukyan bloc, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun and the Yelk bloc for supporting the people’s candidacy in the parliament.
According to the Constitution of Armenia, in case prime minister is not elected, new election is to be held seven days after the vote. A candidate must be backed by at least one third of the total number of deputies. If no prime minister is elected by a majority vote, then the National Assembly dissolves and new election is to be held. -0-.
