PROTEST LEADER, NIKOL PASHINYAN ELECTED PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, Armenia – A journalist and leader of Civil Contract Party(CPC), Nikol Pashinyan who has led protest against government has been elected as Prime Minister by Armenian parliament.

Thousands of Nikol Pashinyan’s supporters watching the proceeding outside paliament in the capital, Yerevan, went wild, jubilating when the result was announced. Armenia is a small country of about 3 million people.

His election marks a dramatic shift from those who have run Armenia since the late 1990s. The whole of Armenia was thrown into tumoil when Mr. Serzh Sargsyan of the Republican Party who had ruled Armedia for two terms as President was appointed PM with new powers following a referendum, forcing many including Pashinyan into the streets.

After several days of protests, Sargsyan stepped down. During the vote, some Republicans(majority in parliament) switched sides, making it easy for Pashinyan to secure the votes of 59 lawmakers, with 42 voting against him.