Armenia's Central Election Commission made a decision at today's extraordinary meeting to register 26 parties and blocks to run in the early parliamentary elections scheduled for June 20.
"Thus, 26 parties and blocs will take part in the early parliamentary elections," CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan said, TASS reports.
The early elections will be held in the country against the backdrop of the political crisis that began in November last year: it was agreed between the chairman of the government and the heads of the parties represented in parliament, after which it was possible to dissolve the parliament. After that, President Armen Sarkissian said the snap parliamentary election would be held on June 20.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and members of his government will continue to hold office as acting representatives until the elections, and his Civil Contract party will participate in the elections on its own and will not form blocs with other political forces.
One of Pashinyan's main rivals in the elections will be former President Robert Kocharian, who formed an alliance with the heads of the Dashnaktsutyun and Reviving Armenia parties Ishkhan Saghatelyan and Vahe Hakobyan.
The Republican Party of Armenia of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan, formed an alliance with the ''Motherland'' Party of the former head of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan, will also take part in the elections.
The Prosperous Armenia and Enlightened Armenia opposition factions also announced their participation in this year's elections.
