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Armenia crisis: Opposition leader Pashinyan fails in bid to be PM

17 minutes ago

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan has failed in his bid to become the interim prime minister.

MPs narrowly voted against the move, even though Mr Pashinyan is the only candidate for the post.

Addressing parliament moments before the vote, he told his supporters he would join them in the centre of the capital Yerevan to resume protests.

Mr Pashinyan has led weeks of anti-government protests that forced former PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign.

He had earlier warned MPs of a "political tsunami" if they did not back him.

Armenia's ruling Republican Party had said it would not put up a candidate, in a bid to ease tensions.

But the protest leader warned there were moves aimed at halting his bid and he urged protesters to stay on the streets to prevent the Republican Party from "stealing the people's victory".

In his address to MPs, Mr Pashinyan accused the Republicans of declaring "war on the Armenian people" when it became clear they would not support him.

He received 45 votes but needed 53 to secure a majority in the 105-seat chamber. 

Mr Sargsyan, who had served 10 years as president, stepped down last month days after being sworn in as PM. He had been accused of trying to cling to power.

All 47 opposition members of parliament had pledged to vote for Mr Pashinyan, but he needed votes from six Republican Party deputies to win the majority he needs in the 105-seat house. The Republican Party has dominated Armenian politics since 1999.

Mr Pashinyan, who has said he will rid Armenia of corruption, poverty and nepotism, called on his supporters to rally as parliament convened. 

In an overnight video address on Facebook he warned supporters that the former president was asking his party to obstruct his election.

The protest leader asked people to meet at Republic Square in the capital, Yerevan, to celebrate what he called "the public victory over hopelessness, emigration and uncertainty". An estimated 20,000 people gathered as the protest leader addressed parliament.

Mr Pashinyan, 42, has said he wants to call snap elections.

"Take this step," he urged MPs, "and you will serve the homeland and the people, helping them to exit this 10-year internal political crisis, helping them to finally eradicate hopelessness from Armenia."