Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resigned alongside his cabinet on August 2, only to be reappointed to the same post within hours.
The move was required by Armenia’s constitution, which obliges the government to step down when a new parliament first convenes. The opening session of the National Assembly’s ninth convocation took place that day. Pashinyan announced on Facebook that he had signed the resignation and sent it to the president.
Constitutional procedure requires the president to appoint a prime minister from the party holding a parliamentary majority. Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party won the June 7 elections with 49.7 percent of the vote, securing that position.
President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed a decree appointing Pashinyan under Article 149(1) of the constitution. Cabinet members continued their duties in the interim.
After the June elections, Pashinyan said there was no tension in Armenia’s relations with Russia and that ties were based on mutual respect. He said some forces were trying to create tension, but that the two countries had very close relations that could not be easily damaged.
