Emergency Meeting: Newly Elected Parliament Speaker Signs First Decision

As previously reported, earlier today, Acting National Assembly Chair, Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) member Samvel Nikoyan was officially elected as Armenia’s next parliamentary speaker with 102 votes in favor and 4 against.

After the election results were announced, Samvel Nikoyan (pictured) gave defeated candidate Heritage Party MP Larisa Alaverdyan a bouquet of flowers and signed his first decision upon assuming the position of National Assembly chair — an emergency meeting to be held at 6:30 pm today, during which time the National Assembly vice chair will be elected.

Recall, these elections too are a mere formality as the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) has nominated Eduard Sharmazanov for the position and as HHK comprises the vast majority of parliament, it is expected that Sharmazanov will be elected.

Note, present at today’s parliamentary meeting were four Heritage Party MPs, Larisa Alaverdyan, Armen Martirosyan, Stepan Safaryan and Anahit Bakhshyan; party leader Raffi Hovannisian and Zaruhi Postanjyan were notably absent.