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Armenia’s ruling party to vote for candidate supported by one third of MPs

"The RPA will vote for that candidate for prime minister who will have support of one third of members of parliament. We won’t nominate our own candidate," Vagram Bagdasaryan said

YEREVAN, May 2. /TASS/. The Republican Party of Armenia will vote for that candidate for prime minister who will enjoy support from one third of the parliament, the head of the RPA faction, Vagram Bagdasaryan said on Wednesday.

"The RPA will vote for that candidate for prime minister who will have support of one third of members of parliament. We won’t nominate our own candidate," he said.

"We urge to open roads and highways and to unblock the airport," he said.

Since April 13, opposition’s widespread protests have gripped Armenia. On April 23, in the wake of protests Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan tendered his resignation. First Deputy Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan was appointed acting prime minister.

On May 1, Armenia’s parliament rejected opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan’s bid to become prime minister. Pashinyan was backed by 45 lawmakers but failed to obtain 53 seats he needed to have a majority. After that he called on his supporters to launch large-scale civil disobedience actions.

The next vote in the parliament on a new prime minister is scheduled for May 8.

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