Ruling Republicans to run offices of Armenia’s Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker

YEREVAN, May 25. /ARKA/. The posts of Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker of Armenia will be given to Republicans, the spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Edward Sharmazanov said Thursday following the Executive Body session. 

“We didn’t discuss any staff issues at the session, but as RPA has received majority of mandates in the parliament, Republicans will take the office of Prime Minister and Speaker, “ he said. 

Sharmazanov also noted that members of Orinats Yerkir Party will enter the cabinet, “but who and what number of them is not clear yet.” He highlighted that “RPA is ready to take the whole responsibility” and will implement the programs approved by the voters. 

The Deputy Speaker also said that RPA is open for the dialogue with al the other political forces. The spokesman added that all the final staff decisions will be made till May 31.

The Republican Party of Armenia won the majority of votes, receiving 44.02% (664, 440 votes). The Prosperous Armenia Party received 30,12% of votes (454, 673 votes) and 37 seats (28 under proportional, and 9- popular vote) in 131-seat parliament The third place was given to opposition block Armenian National Congress- 7.08% (106, 903).

Five-percent barrier was overcome by oppositional Heritage (5.76% or 86, 998 votes) and Dashnaktsutyun (5.67% or 85, 550) as well as coalition Otinats Yerkir – 5.51% or 83, 123 votes. 

The election outsiders are Communist Party of Armenia (1.5% or 15, 899 votes), Democratic Party (0.37% or 5,577) and United Armenians (0.20% or 2,945). 

The Republican Party of Armenia received the majority of votes resulting in getting 69 seats in the parliament ( 40 under proportional, and 29 under popularity vote). Armenian National Congress received 7 seats. Dashnaktsutyun, Orinats Yerkir and Heritage- five each under the proportional system. However, the first two parties have one deputy mandate each, received under popular vote system. 

Armenia's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has registered eight political parties and one electoral bloc for the May 6 parliamentary elections.

In compliance with the Electoral Code of Armenia parties should gain at least 5% of votes and a bloc- 7% to receive seats in the parliament.

According to the latest data provided by the Central Electoral Commission 1 573 053 out of 2 523 101 constituents participated in polls on May 6.

The Republican Party of Armenia was registered in 1991. Its chairman is president Serzh Sargsyan. The party has a prime-minister and seven ministers in the government. The speaker of the National Assembly and one of the deputy speakers are also members of the ruling party.

Prosperous Armenia, a moderate centrist liberal-leaning party, was established in April 2004 by Gagik Tsarukyan, parliament deputy, Head of National Olympic Committee of Armenia, president of Multy Group concern. In the incumbent parliament the Party is represented by four ministers, and the Deputy Speaker.

Armenian National Congress was established in August, 2008 by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of Armenia. It consists of 18 political parties and organizations. The post-election situation in the republic in March of 2008, when Ter-Petrosyan failed the president elections yielding to the incumbent Serzh Sargsyan prompted the opposition to establish the Congress. Since then the Congress has organized a number of protests calling upon the authorities in power to quit their positions. On March 1-2 the rally turned into clashes between the protesters and the police causing 10 deaths, 200 people were injured. 

Armenian Revolution Federation Dashnaktsutyun is one of the oldest Armenian political parties that was established in 1890 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Being patriotically- oriented the Party took an active part in national liberation struggle of the Armenian nation in Ottoman Empire. It was ruling throughout the First World War ( 1918-1920) as well as participated in Karabakh movement at the end of the XX century.

Heritage Party, liberal-democratic political force, was founded in 2002 by former Armenian Foreign Minister Raffi Hovhannisyan . The Party has close ties with the Diaspora and is regarded as pro-western orientated. 

Orinats Yerkir Party was launched in 1997 by the current Secretary of National Security Council of Armenia Artur Baghdasaryan. It is represented by three ministers in the government. —0—