Armenia’s embattled prime minister has confirmed that he will step down from the post in April in order to allow an early parliamentary election to take place.
Nikol Pashinyan has faced months of protests calling for his removal in the wake of Armenia’s defeat in last year’s war with Azerbaijan. In a move to defuse the political crisis, Pashinyan two weeks ago announced that an early election would be held on June 20.
Under Armenian law, such elections can be held after a prime minister resigns and the parliament fails twice to choose a new one.
“I will resign in April – not to leave power, but to hold early parliamentary elections. I will continue to act as prime minister” as head of the Cabinet, Pashinyan said Sunday in a meeting with residents of the village of Aragats. He did not give a specific date for stepping down.