YEREVAN, Armenia — The leader of the wave of protests that created a surprise power vacuum in Armenia said Sunday that he has met with the country’s new president and hopes to secure his support to become prime minister.
Armenia’s parliament plans to choose a replacement on Tuesday for Serzh Sargsyan, who resigned last week amid the street demonstrations over his selection as prime minister. Opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinian, who led the protests, hopes to be the next premier.
Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, right, walks with the supporter during a rally in Yerevan, Armenia, on . Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Pashinian’s supporters blocked traffic in the capital, marched through the city and assembled in a central square for an anti-government rally, as they did for more than a week over the political maneuvers that made Sargsyan prime minister after he was termed out of office as president.
Pashinian said Sunday that he hopes his bid to be the next prime minister receives backing from the current president, Armen Sarkisian, after their meeting. Former Prime Minister Karen Karapetian, who was appointed to the post in an acting capacity last week, is from Sargsyan’s Republic party.
The party holds a majority in parliament. A spokesman said Saturday it would not nominate a Republican candidate for prime minister, but lawmakers who are party members would vote as a bloc.
Armenian opposition supporters hold a rally in Yerevan, Armenia . Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Sargsyan was Armenia’s president for a decade before term limits forced him to step down in March. Lawmakers elected him as prime minister this month after approving governance changes that diminished the presidency’s power and bolstered the prime minister’s.
Opponents said the new system would have allowed Sargsyan to remain Armenia’s leader indefinitely.