YEREVAN. – As a result of secret ballot, ruling Republican Party of Armenia National Assembly (RPA NA) Faction Secretary Hovhannes Sahakyan has been elected Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs. 

Eighty MPs voted for, whereas five others cast their ballots against Sahakyan, and one ballot was declared invalid, the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informed.

The RPA deputies plus several MPs from the non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia NA Faction participated in the voting. 

The opposition Armenian National Congress, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage, and Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) factions, on the other hand, did not partake in the vote.

The position of the chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs was left vacant when Davit Harutyunyan was appointed Government Chief of Staff-Minister.