Armenian-American rock star and activist Serj Tankian, who is the lead singer of the alternative-metal band System of a Down, joined an opposition rally in Yerevan's Republic Square on the eve of a parliamentary vote to determined if protest leader Nikol Pashinian will become Armenia's prime minister.
Tankian addressed the cheering crowds in Armenian. "You managed to turn your anger and despair into a positive movement," he told the crowd. Then he sang a fragment from a popular Armenian patriotic song, Bari Aragil (Kind Stork), accompanied by the crowds.
Tankian was welcomed earlier at the Yerevan airport by Pashinian and his supporters. During their drive into Yerevan, Pashinian and Tankian were greeted by thousands of people who lined the streets leading to Republic Square, RFE/RL reported.
After failing in an initial parliamentary vote on the next prime minister, Pashinian was officially nominated on May 3 for a second time as the only candidate for the post by his Yelk faction and allied opposition parties. Pashinian secured the backing of 41 lawmakers in the 105-seat parliament for his nomination for the May 8 vote. The ruling Republican Party holds 58 seats, but it has said it will vote for whichever candidate is backed by at least one-third of the lawmakers.
