Opposition candidate finally elected deputy speaker of Armenian parliament
YEREVAN, August 6, /ARKA/. Ishkhan Saghatelyan, an Armenian MP, nominated by the opposition Hayastan (Armenia) and Pativ Unem, (I Have Honor) alliances for the post of the third deputy parliament speaker, has been finally elected today morning in the third attempt.
Out of 107 deputies of the parliament, 103 took part in the voting. Two of the ballots were declared invalid. Sixty-four deputies voted for Saghatelyan and 37 against.
In August 5 first voting 106 deputies took part in the voting. Fifty-three voted for Saghatelyan's candidacy, which was not enough for him to be elected.
Some 103 deputies took part in the second voting hours later that day. Forty-nine deputies voted for Saghatelyan's candidacy, and as many against and 5 ballots were declared invalid.
The first session of the new parliament elected in the June 20 snap polls, elected Alen Simonyan representing prime minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party as speaker. Ruben Rubinyan and Hakob Arshakyan from Civil Contract party were elected as his deputies.
Armenia’s National Assembly comprises the Civil Contract party, which won 53.91% of the votes (71 seats), the Hayastan (Armenia) bloc (29 seats), and the Pativ Unem (I have Honor) bloc (7 seats).
The parliament consists of 107 lawmakers, down from 132 in the previous parliament. -0-
