YEREVAN. – We will continue to shape a new culture of pluralism in Armenia’s parliament, ruling Republican Party National Assembly (RPA NA) Faction Head Galust Sahakyan stated following his election on Tuesday to the position of NA Speaker.

Sahakyan thanked the RPA as well as Armenia’s President and RPA Chairman Serzh Sargsyan for nominating him for this office. He also thanked the non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia (PAP) and the opposition Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law; RLP) Factions for participating in the vote.

“I also thank those factions that did not participate in the vote as well as to Mr. Bagratyan and Mr. [Ruben] Hakobyan [opposition Heritage NA Faction Head] for being nominated.

“I believe my plans and the approaches that are associated with the high honor and the normal work of the parliament will have a paramount importance to me.

“Congratulating the entire parliament, I believe we will form a new culture from now on, too,” Sahakyan specifically stated at the NA.               

As reported earlier, Galust Sahakyan received 101 votes, whereas the other candidate, self-nominated Hrant Bagratyan from the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) Faction, received three votes. 

Even though PAP and RLP consider themselves an alternative political force and an opposition, respectively, in all likelihood, all deputies of these two factions have voted in Sahakyan’s favor during the casting of secret ballots.    

Nikol Pashinyan (ANC), Alexander Arzumanyan (Heritage), and Hrant Bagratyan (ANC) himself, on the other hand, voted in the Bagratyan’s favor.