Armenia's acting prime minister is on track to consolidate his power after preliminary results put his alliance ahead in parliamentary elections. Nikol Pashinian took office in May after leading anti-corruption protests.
With all votes counted, Pashinian's My Step alliance has garnered over 70 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results released by the Armenian Central Electoral Commission. The pro-business Prosperous Armenia party finished a distant second with 8 percent.
The Republican Party, which controlled the old parliament and is headed by former Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, suffered a massive defeat and came in at less than 5 percent, according to the early results. This means the will likely not make it into parliament.
Voter turnout for Sunday's election was around 48 percent, significantly down from the 60 percent voter turnout rate in the 2017 parliamentary election.
A man casts his vote at a polling stating in Yerevan, Armenia during this weekend's electionImage: Reuters/Photolure/V. Baghdasaryan
Respecting 'fundamental freedoms'
Pashinian hailed the victory on Monday, thanking the "mighty people" of Armenia.
"I love all of you, I am proud of all of you, I bow to all of you," the 43-year-old former journalist posted on his Facebook page.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a security-oriented intergovernmental organization whose mandate includes fair elections, said Monday that Armenia's elections had genuine competition.
"The general absence of electoral malfeasance, including of vote-buying and pressure on voters, allowed for genuine competition," the organization said in a statement.
The European Parliament also praised the former Soviet republic's snap election as "well administered."
The vote was held "with respect for fundamental freedoms and enjoyed broad public trust that needs to be preserved through further electoral reforms," the EU's legislative body said in a statement.
From protest leader to prime minister
Pashinian took office in May after leading massive anti-corruption protests against his predecessor, Sargsyan.
He then pushed for the early elections in order to gather a strong mandate for his alliance and win control of the parliament, which was led by Sargsyan's Republicans.
Sargsyan's critics accused him of trying to hold on to power by becoming prime minister after serving two terms as president. A constitutional amendment in 2015 shifted the country from a presidential system to a parliamentary one, granting more power to the prime minister.
Armenia: How public protests forced PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan stepped down on April 23 after thousands of people took to the streets to protest his rule. What sparked this public outrage and how is Russia viewing this political change?
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/TASS/A. Geodakyan
Sargsyan steps down
Serzh Sargsyan, who ruled Armenia for 10 years, tendered his resignation after widespread public demonstrations against his attempts to hold onto power. The Armenian government named former Prime Minister Karen Karapetian, an ally of Sargsyan, as acting premier.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/M. Metzel
An unpopular move
The protests were sparked by Sargsyan's move to extend his rule. The 63-year-old was president of Armenia from 2008 until a term limit forced him out in March. But the parliament, which is controlled by ruling Republican Party, installed him as prime minister in April and curbed the powers of the president.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/PAN/D. Abrahamyan
Massive anti-government protests
The shift to a strengthened parliamentary triggered massive anti-government protests in the capital of Yerevan on April 13, with thousands of people participating in rolling demonstrations against Sargsyan. Hundreds of Armenian soldiers also joined the protests.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/TASS/A. Geodakyan
Clinging to power
The parliament's move to keep Sargsyan in power echoed a maneuver by Russian President Vladimir Putin a decade ago. Leaders in several former Soviet republics have used similar methods to remain in power.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Metzel
Acting prime minister
Acting PM Karapetian too has close ties with Russia. He worked in Russia for five years as a senior executive of state-controlled gas giant Gazprom.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/T. Mehrabyan
Jubilation
Protesters in the capital Yerevan took to the streets to celebrate Sargsyan's resignation. A day after Sargsyan stepped down, the country's opposition called for a meeting with the caretaker prime minister to discuss a "peaceful transfer of power." In this photo, opposition leader Nikol Pashinian (R) is seen in a meeting with Sargsyan on April 22, urging him to step down.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/TASS/A. Geodakyan
A blow to Russia's foreign policy
Russia, Armenia's closest ally, said on April 24 that it was not concerned about the political situation in Yerevan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not regard Armenia's political tumult as a Ukraine-style revolt against pro-Russia politicians. However, according to analysts, Sargsyan's resignation has unsettled Russian interests in Armenia.
Image: picture-alliance/Sputnik/S. Guneev
Back to the streets
After talks with acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan were cancelled, Pashinian and his supporters took to the streets again on April 25 to demand parliament choose a "people's candidate" who di not come from the ruling Republican Party.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Geodakyan
Parliament votes for new premier
Armenia's parliament will vote for a new premier on May 1. Pashinian has said he is prepared to be a candidate, but it is unclear if he will get support. The ruling Republican Party holds a majority in parliament.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/TASS/A. Geodakyan
Pashinian is the sole candidate for the post of prime minister
As Nikol Pashinian's supporters staged further protests on April 29, the ruling Republican Party which holds a majority in parliament said it would not put forward a candidate for prime minister to stand against Pashinian. The party would not "impede the election of the people's candidate" if all three opposition factions voted for him, leader Vahram Baghdasaryan said.
Image: Reuters/G. Garanich
Nikol Pashinian - deal maker
Short of six votes, Pashinian met with other political leaders in parliament on April 30. "We are facing the task of resolving the political crisis in the country," he said. "If a prime minister is not elected tomorrow, this crisis will not disappear." The vote in parliament for a new prime minister was scheduled for May 1.
