Friday, May 10 2024 20:04

ArmInfo.The process of implementing the impeachment procedure for the Prime Minister of Armenia is at the  discussion stage. MP from the "Hayastan" opposition faction, Gegham Manukan, reported this to RFE/RL's Armenian Service , noting that we are talking about both securing the signatures of 36 MPs necessary to  initiate the process, and the candidate for the post of new prime minister.

"Legal and technical issues will be clarified later," Manukyan noted.

Earlier today, members of the "Civil Contract" ruling faction, in a  conversation with RFE/RL's Armenian Service, ruled out any of them  joining the impeachment procedure.

On May 9, a protest was held on Republic Square in Yerevan. Bishop  Bagrat Galstanyan stated that the head of the current government had  failed to govern the country in all areas, and therefore he demanded  his resignation. After the demand was rejected by the ruling faction,  Srbazan announced that Prime Minister Pashinyan had ignored , so a vote of no confidence should be passed against  him in parliament. He also called for strikes and a boycott of  classes.

According to Article 115 of the RA Constitution, a draft resolution  of the National Assembly on expressing no confidence in the Prime  Minister can be submitted by at least one third of the total number  of MPs only if the draft resolution simultaneously proposes the  candidacy of a new Prime Minister. In other words, it is necessary to  collect signatures from at least 36 out of MPs. The "Hayastan"  () (29) and "I have the honor" (6) opposition factions  together have 35 MPs, which means the signature of one more MP is  needed. In this case, the parliamentary opposition must either  convince Ishkhan Zakaryan, who left the "I Have the Honor" faction in  2021, to join them, or convince someone from the ruling faction.

Further, the draft resolution of the National Assembly on expressing  no confidence in the Prime Minister is put to a vote no earlier than  forty-eight and no later than seventy-two hours after its  presentation. The resolution is adopted by a majority vote of the  total number of MPs - by a roll-call vote. That is, to vote on  impeachment, at least 54 votes are needed, and the opposition needs  to secure the votes of 18 more MPs. If the resolution is adopted, the  Prime Minister is considered to have resigned.

It should be remembered that if a draft resolution of the National  Assembly on expressing no confidence in the Prime Minister is not  adopted, then such a draft can be presented no earlier than six  months later. A draft resolution of the National Assembly on  expressing no confidence in the Prime Minister cannot be submitted  during a state of emergency or martial law.