YEREVAN. – During Thursday’s first session of Armenia’s fifth National Assembly (NA), ruling Republican Party (RPA) NA Faction leader Galust Sahakyan nominated RPA members Eduard Sharmazanov and Hermine Naghdalyan as candidates for the two NA Deputy Speakers, Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informs from the NA. 

To note, RPA member Hovik Abrahamyan is already elected Speaker at the aforesaid session. 

According to the preliminary results of the May 6 parliamentary elections, five political parties and one bloc will be represented in the 131-seat National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia: Republican Party of Armenia – 44.05% (40 seats), Prosperous Armenia Party – 30.2% (28 seats), Armenian National Congress – 7.1% (7 seats), Heritage Party – 5.79% (5 seats), ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party – 5.73% (5 seats), and Orinats Yerkir Party – 5.49% (5 seats). 

Since the RPA has won the majority of the parliamentary seats, it assumed the positions of NA Speaker, NA Deputy Speakers, and PM. In addition, the RPA could have formed a government by itself, but it preferred to form a ruling coalition with the Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Party. The Prosperous Armenia Party, on the other hand, considered it inexpedient to take part in a coalition government.