Armenia Cabinet will change, prime minister saysMay 8, 2018 - 13:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Newly-elected prime minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday, April 8 that changes will be made in the country’s Cabinet. Asked minutes after his election whether major changes will be made in the government staff, Pashinyan said: “Yes, of course.” The prime minister, however, did not provide details and names of certain candidates. The Armenian parliament on Tuesday elected Pashinyan as the country’s new prime minister after weeks of political standoff, a civil campaign against the ruling authorities and massive protests in Yerevan and across the country. Pashinyan secured a relevant number of votes necessary for getting the job after 59 Armenian lawmakers voted to grant him the PM’s powers. The movement was in full swing throughout the republic for several weeks and got even stronger after the National Assembly failed to elect Pashinyan as the country's new prime minister on May 1. The founder and head of Civil Contract party and lawmaker from the Yelk bloc, Pashinyan leads the street campaign, which has seen hundreds of thousands of Armenians taking to the streets in massive protests in the past several weeks. Former prime minister Serzh Sargsyan was forced to resign on April 23, and Pashinyan is now seeking the appointment as prime minister by the National Assembly of what he calls “the people’s candidate”, - i.e. himself - the formation of an interim government and snap parliamentary elections. Pashinyan has promised to rid Armenia of corruption and poverty and is still the only candidate running for the PM's post. Demonstrations have been halted since May 3 after the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) pledged to support Pashinyan’s candidacy. Yelk and Tsarukyan blocs, as well the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) had pledged to support Pashinyan’s bid, while the RPA had said they would “allocate the necessary number of votes, so that Armenia has a new prime minister on Tuesday.” Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |