Samvel Nikoyan Elected as Armenia’s Next National Assembly Chair

National Assembly deputies are guided by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia: if anyone wants to submit their resignation, the procedure is enshrined in the Constitution, in parliament today said Acting National Assembly Chair, Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) member Samvel Nikoyan rather elusively, responding to a reporter’s comment that decisions on dismissals in parliament are made not within the walls of parliament but at the presidential residence.

“That’s explicable, and no position for anyone is forever,” he said.

Reporters also asked Nikoyan why he was nominated for the position after former parliamentary speaker Hovik Abrahamyan resigned, to which Nikoyan responded, “The party decides who to nominate; it decided to nominate me, but the deputies elect the National Assembly chair through voting.”

Note, these elections took place today at 12:30 pm. Two candidates were nominated, Samvel Nikoyan and Heritage Party member Larisa Alaverdyan.

At 2:30 pm, the results were announced: with 102 in favor, 4 against, Nikoyan was elected as Armenia’s next parliamentary speaker. Consequently, Alaverdyan received 4 votes in favor and 102 against.