Powers of Armenian President officially terminated

PanARMENIAN.Net - President of the National Assembly Alen Simonian on Tuesday, February 1 signed a protocol on the termination of the powers of President Armen Sarkissian, the press service of the parliament reports.

Simonyan himself has now become the acting head of state, while one of his deputies, Hakob Arshakyan, will temporarily serve as the President of parliament.

Under to the Constitution, until the election of a new president, the powers of the head of state are performed by the speaker of parliament. Since President Armen Sarkissian did not withdraw his resignation after submitting it on January 23, his term ended.

According to the country's Constitution, "in the event of removal from office of the President of the Republic, impossibility to exercise the powers thereby, resignation or death thereof, an extraordinary election of the President of the Republic shall be held not earlier than twenty-five and not later than thirty-five days after the office of the President of the Republic becomes vacant."