Lawmakers in Armenia elect three vice-speakers of National Assembly (video)
Armenia’s National Assembly will hereinafter have one speaker and three vice-speakers. Addressing his colleagues during the May 19 sitting of the National Assembly of the 6th convocation, NA Speaker Ara Babloyan said that three members of the Tsarukyan alliance (Harutyun GHaragyozyan, Artyom Tsarukyan and Khachik Manukyan) had submitted withdrawal applications. They have 15 days to reconsider their decision, otherwise the applications will be accepted. Ara Babloyan also said that Vahran Baghdasaryan and Gagik Melikyan had been elected as Head and Secretary of the HHK faction, respectively. Nikol Pashinyan was elected head of the parliamentary group of the Yelk alliance and Gevorg Gorgisyan –Secretary of the faction. Gagik Tsarukyan will head the parliamentary group of the Tsarukyan alliance. Vahe Enfiajyan was re-elected as Secretary of the faction. Armen Rustamyan and Aghvan Vardanyan were elected as Head and Secretary of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun faction. One hundred lawmakers participated in the secret ballot to elect vice-speakers of the National Assembly. HHK member Arpine Hovhannisyan received 73 votes, Eduard Sharmazanov (HHK) and Mikael Melkumyan (Tsarukyan alliance) 84 and 65 votes, respectively. The three candidates were elected as vice-speakers of the Armenian parliament. Ara Babloyan also handed over a souvenir to former speaker Galust Sahakyan for him to remember every day that he had been ‘a worthy speaker of the National Assembly.’
