The inaugural session of the ninth convocation of Armenia’s National Assembly took place in Yerevan. The new parliament began its work with a political protest: during the swearing-in ceremony, opposition representatives refused to stand or recite the oath, whereas deputies from the ruling party stood while doing so. That same day, Nikol Pashinyan’s government resigned, in accordance with the Constitution.
During the swearing-in ceremony, deputies from the "Civil Contract" party rose from their seats and recited the oath aloud. Representatives of the opposition blocs remained seated and did not read the oath, although they later signed the text. Even before the session began, they had protested the absence of Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians. The opposition attributes this absence to the ongoing conflict between the authorities and the Armenian Apostolic Church; relations between the two have remained tense since the elections.
The parliament was formed following elections held on June 7. Of the 105 seats, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s "Civil Contract" party secured 64, allowing it to independently appoint the National Assembly leadership and form a new government. The opposition consists of the "Strong Armenia" and "Armenia" blocs, which won 29 and 12 seats, respectively.
The session was opened by the parliament’s oldest deputy, Knyaz Hasanov. Presiding over the inaugural session of a new convocation for the fourth consecutive time, he began his address by calling for political differences to be set aside for the sake of the country's interests.
"I ask and urge all my sisters and brothers in parliament—both supporters and opposition members—let us be united, put aside all differences, and rally around our state," Hasanov said. According to him, peace is currently "as essential as air and water" for Armenia, and all conflicts must be resolved through diplomatic means rather than war.
The parliament is set to elect its leadership in the near future. Ruben Rubinyan, a representative of the ruling party, remains the sole candidate for the post of speaker; the parliamentary majority virtually guarantees his election. Lawmakers must also form standing committees and—for the first time—establish an Ethics Commission, a body introduced following recent amendments to the National Assembly's rules of procedure.
On the day of the new parliament's inaugural session, Nikol Pashinyan's government resigned in accordance with Article 158 of the Armenian Constitution. He posted a video on his Telegram channel showing himself signing the resignation letter, explaining that the Constitution mandates this procedure on the day of the National Assembly's first session following a new election.
Shortly thereafter, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed a decree reappointing Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister. This concluded the constitutionally mandated process of forming a new government following the commencement of the new parliament's term.
