Early parliamentary elections in Armenia will be held within one year, the republic's prime minister Nikol Pashinyan said.
"This term is necessary to allow political forces that were not ready for the revolution to make necessary preparations for the elections and give time to citizens to make their conscious choice based on the results of political forces’ activities," he said, presenting his government’s program to the National Assembly.
According to the PM, this period of time will also be used for reformation of the country’s electoral system. He said a working group will be set up for that. "The group will be made up of representatives of various categories of the society," Pashinyan stressed.
He said that it would be beneficial for his party to conduct early parliamentary elections as soon as possible, since it is now at the peak of its popularity now after the velvet revolution and it is obvious that it will enjoy a sweeping victory.
"But at the same time, it would mean that principles remained unchanged, and the authorities are guided only by the desire to retain power," ARKA cited the Armenian PM as saying.
He finds early parliamentary elections necessary. "The executive power formed through bribery and fraud has gone away. The legislative power formed through fraudulent elections and electoral briber should do the same," Pashinyan added.
