Armenia's new parliament elected a government-backed speaker on Thursday during its inaugural session attended by President Serzh Sarkisian but boycotted by two of the three opposition groups represented in the National Assembly.
Hovik Abrahamian was elected to chair the 131-seat assembly by a vote of 102 to 4. The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) nominated him for the post late on Wednesday.
"It's now time to work," Abrahamian told fellow legislators after the vote. Speaking to journalists afterwards, he said he "will not hesitate to criticize the government" if need be.
The HHK controls 69 seats in the parliament, suggesting that Abrahamian's candidacy was also backed by many deputies from the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), the second largest parliamentary force. Six other lawmakers representing the pro-government Orinats Yerkir party are also likely to have backed the sole candidate for the post.
Armenian News
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