Armenian Parliament Passes Controversial Election Bill, Triggering Protests

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Tens of thousands took to the streets on October 2 as Armenia’s former ruling party passed a bill that hampers Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s drive for early elections during a special parliamentary session, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFERL).

The former ruling party and the current majority party in the parliament, the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), initiated the bill. The Tsarukian Alliance, which is comprised mostly of members of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), also supported the bill.

According to the new bill, which amends the Law on Regulations of the National Assembly, “If a parliament session cannot be held because of lack of quorum, or if [members of parliament] are prevented from participating, it should be considered interrupted rather than failed, and resumed at a later date,” reports Business New Europe. The bill aims to limit situations in which the dissolution of parliament can happen.

Right after the vote, Prime Minister Pashinyan fired six BHK and Dashnaktsutyun members from their ministerial posts, according to Stratfor. Since then, Pashinyan has been negotiating with opposition factions regarding holding early elections, and such talks have been “inconclusive.”

Pashinyan called on his supporters to protest  the bill, which he calls “counterrevolutionary." He told protesters outside of parliament, "By approving this bill, the Republican party and forces that supported it have officially declared the existence of a counterrevolution.” In front of the crowd, he also urged President Armen Sarkisian not to sign the bill into law.

According to Pashinyan, holding early parliamentary elections was “one of the conditions of [the] velvet revolution,” in which demonstrations forced Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan to step down and Pashinyan replaced him. This condition “was included in the government program which was approved by the parliament.”

Pashinyan said on the next day that he rejects the former ruling Republican Party’s claim of having parliamentary elections in May or June next year, demanding they be held this December.

Legislators who voted for the bill denied the accusation that they passed it to stop new elections. The Republican Party insisted that a “reasonable time frame” is necessary for the government to prepare for elections. The decision was made “not because we don't want to face early elections, but because we can't accept pressuring lawmakers," said parliamentary speaker Ara Babloyan. HHK spokesman and deputy parliament speaker Eduard Sharmazanov accused Pashinyan of interfering in legislature work.

In order to push for early elections, Pashinyan mentioned in his speech that he will resign shortly after President Sarkissian acknowledges the dismissal of the six ministers. "If it turns out that the people stand for preterm elections, then together with the people we will not allow the parliament to elect a new prime minister," Pashinyan said.

Under the Armenian Constitution, snap elections can be called “if lawmakers fail twice to choose a new prime minister and the legislature is dissolved,” according to RFERL.