Armenia's new parliament elects speaker in opening session
The National Assembly of the Seventh Convocation on Monday voted overwhelmingly to elect a former vice prime minister of Armenia its president.
Out of the 132 lawmakers attending the opening session, 131 backed Ararat Mirzoyan's candidacy.
Knyaz Hasanov, who was conducting the sitting, congratulated Mirzoyan on behalf of the parliament on receiving the vast majority of votes. The newly elected speaker, for his part, thanked his colleagues in the legislative for the high level of trust, admitting that their vote of confidence “is highly obliging” in his future responsible mission.
Mirzoyan, a former opposition MP from the political faction YELQ (Way Out), approached the leaders of all the parliamentary groups to thank them separately.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also attended the Monday hearing which is also expected to elect the three deputy speakers.