Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian vowed late on October 2 to tender his resignation in an effort to force early parliamentary elections before the end of the year. Rallying tens of thousands of supporters in Yerevan, he also announced the firing of six government ministers representing the Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and Dashnaktsutyun parties who he accused of hampering his drive for early elections. Pashinian called on supporters to rally outside the parliament building in central Yerevan immediately after lawmakers from the BHK and Dashnaktsutyun joined the former ruling Republican Party (HHK) in passing a bill that would make it harder for him to dissolve the current parliament.
Pashinian condemned the bill as a “conspiracy against the Armenian people” as he addressed the protesters, some of whom were blocking the entrances to the parliament building.
“By approving this bill, the Republican party and forces that supported it have officially declared the existence of a counterrevolution,” he told the crowd, where some protesters shouted “Niko! Niko!” and “Snap polls!”
“We will have early elections in late November or early December,” he declared before entering the building to negotiate with leaders of the parliamentary forces.
Full Article: Armenia’s Pashinian Says Will Resign In Push To Force New Elections.
