What’s Next For Armenia Following A Government Reshuffle?

After nearly two weeks of mass anti-government protests across Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, the Armenian prime minister, announced his resignation today. Hours later, Armen Sarkissian, the president of Armenia, signed a decree on the government’s dissolution.

Photo credit: Oleksandr Kokhan/HROMADSKE

“There are a couple of ways to resolve the situation we have [in Armenia], but I won’t resort to any of them,” Sargsyan wrote in a statement referring to the large-scale protests sweeping Armenian streets lately. “The events in the streets are against my leadership. [So] I’m fulfilling your demand… I’m leaving the post of prime minister.”

READ MORE: As It Happened: Second Week of Protests in Armenia

Many Armenians were clearly delighted with the news as hundreds of thousands took to the streets to celebrate. According to the Armenian constitution, if a prime minister resigns, parliamentary factions have seven days to announce their candidates for the role. Then, the new PM is elected by the parliament. In the meantime, Sargsyan’s predecessor and current deputy prime minister Karen Karapetyan will fulfil the PM duties.

The news of resignation follow Sarsyan’s fruitless meeting with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan yesterday, which did not see the two political leaders coming to an agreement. Following the meeting, Pashinyan was detained with his location remaining unknown until today.

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