Former emergencies minister becomes S. Ossetian parliament speaker
TSKHINVAL. June 20 (Interfax) - Former South Ossetian Emergency Situations Minister and United Ossetia leader Alan Tadtayev has been elected to the post of speaker of the republic's new parliament by secret ballot.
"Twenty-five deputies voted for and one against the MP from the United Ossetia party who won this election," mandate commission chairman Amiran Dyakonov told Interfax.
South Ossetia's new parliament, which was elected on June 9, held its first session in Tskhinval on Thursday.
The republic's President Anatoly Bibilov addressed the new parliamentarians.
"This is a serious step in the political life of our republic. I'm confident that the deputies' work will be aimed at promoting development. I am ready for close interaction with all political forces and factions. We will be able to achieve results in tackling important tasks that face our republic only through close cooperation," Bibilov said, wishing the MPs productive work.
Three parliament deputy speakers were also elected at the session.
Tadtayev thanked the MPs for their high trust and said that "the party will continue to support the president's domestic and foreign policies and continue working to achieve the reunification of South Ossetia and North Ossetia within the Russian Federation."
Five parties won seats in South Ossetia's parliament as a result of the June 9 election, the first held in the republic based on the first-past-the-post and proportional system since 2009. United Ossetia received seven seats, the People's Party four seats, Nykhas three seats, the Unity of the People party two seats, and the Communist Party one seat.
Candidates nominated by United Ossetia also won the most votes in the republic's 17 single-seat electoral districts. Seven candidates from United Ossetia and one candidate representing each of the other parties - Nykhas, the People's Party, Unity of the People, and the Communist Party - won the elections in these districts.
Consequently, United Ossetia controls 14 seats in the republic's 34-member parliament, the People's Party holds five seats, Nykhas four, Unity of the People three, and the Communist Party two. Self-nominees received the remaining six seats.