Armenian liberal-democrats call for electing protest leader Pashinyan PM, holding early parliamentary election
YEREVAN. April 29 (Interfax) - The Armenian liberal-democratic party Ramkavar-Azatakan called on the Armenian parliament on Sunday to elect Nikol Pashinyan, the leader of the protest movement and head of the opposition parliamentary faction Elk, Armenia's prime minister on May 1.
"We urge electing Nikol Pashinyan prime minister on May 1 and tasking him with forming a new provisional government to ensure uninterrupted work of government bodies," the party said in a statement.
It urged Pashinyan to act strictly in line with the constitution, regardless of demands by people belonging to his entourage, and closely cooperate with the president of Armenia, the president of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Ramkavar-Azatakan also listed a number of steps that, in its view, a new Armenian prime minister must take.
"Dissolve the Armenian parliament in line with the law and recommend that the president call a new parliamentary election. Before that, start the process of reforming the electoral code, bring it into line with democratic standards, organize elections based solely on the proportional system, offer equal starting opportunities to all parties, put together a new Central Election Commission on a non-partisan basis, impose strict control over finances spent during the elections. Introduce legislation expanding the presidential powers and reducing the prime minister's super-powers," the party said.