The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), which registered a convincing victory in last month’s parliamentary elections, has named candidates for leadership positions in the next National Assembly that will convene on Thursday.
At a meeting of the HHK executive body held Wednesday night the party’s leader, President Serzh Sarkisian suggested that former health minister Ara Babloyan be nominated for the position of parliament speaker.
Meanwhile, HHK spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov, who is a deputy speaker of the outgoing parliament, and former justice minister Arpine Hovannisian have been named to take the positions of deputy speakers.
Sharmazanov, who spoke to the media after the party meeting, said all nominations were approved unanimously.
He also said that at tomorrow’s session the HHK will suggest reducing the number of standing committees in parliament from 12 to 9. The HHK will be entitled to appoint the heads of six of these committees.
In the latest elections the HHK retained its parliamentary majority and currently has 58 seats in the 105-member legislative body. Together with its junior coalition partner, Dashnaktsutyun, which has seven mandates, the ruling party also enjoys a constitutional majority.
The second largest parliamentary faction formed by the Tsarukian Alliance that has 31 seats also named its candidates for leadership positions in the National Assembly. The bloc is, in particular, entitled to have one deputy parliament speaker and is going to nominate Mikael Melkumian for the position. Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the alliance, will head its parliamentary faction.
Yelk, an opposition alliance that has nine seats in the National Assembly, said its faction will be headed by Nikol Pashinian.
Under Armenian law the government will resign tomorrow as the new National Assembly convenes. The HHK has announced its intention to suggest that the parliament approves the candidacy of current Prime Minister Karen Karapetian to continue in office.