Will Pashinyan be impeached?

ArmInfo.The process of implementing the impeachment procedure for the Prime Minister of Armenia is at the 

discussion stage. MP from the "Hayastan" opposition faction, Gegham Manukan, reported this to RFE/RL's Armenian Service , noting that we are talking about both securing the signatures of 36 MPs necessary to 

initiate the process, and the candidate for the post of new prime minister.

"Legal and technical issues will be clarified later," Manukyan noted.

Earlier today, members of the "Civil Contract" ruling faction, in a 

conversation with RFE/RL's Armenian Service, ruled out any of them 

joining the impeachment procedure.

On May 9, a protest was held on Republic Square in Yerevan. Bishop 

Bagrat Galstanyan stated that the head of the current government had 

failed to govern the country in all areas, and therefore he demanded 

his resignation. After the demand was rejected by the ruling faction, 

Srbazan announced that Prime Minister Pashinyan had ignored <those 

who elected him>, so a vote of no confidence should be passed against 

him in parliament. He also called for strikes and a boycott of 

classes.

According to Article 115 of the RA Constitution, a draft resolution 

of the National Assembly on expressing no confidence in the Prime 

Minister can be submitted by at least one third of the total number 

of MPs only if the draft resolution simultaneously proposes the 

candidacy of a new Prime Minister. In other words, it is necessary to 

collect signatures from at least 36 out of MPs. The "Hayastan" 

(<Armenia>) (29) and "I have the honor" (6) opposition factions 

together have 35 MPs, which means the signature of one more MP is 

needed. In this case, the parliamentary opposition must either 

convince Ishkhan Zakaryan, who left the "I Have the Honor" faction in 

2021, to join them, or convince someone from the ruling faction.

Further, the draft resolution of the National Assembly on expressing 

no confidence in the Prime Minister is put to a vote no earlier than 

forty-eight and no later than seventy-two hours after its 

presentation. The resolution is adopted by a majority vote of the 

total number of MPs - by a roll-call vote. That is, to vote on 

impeachment, at least 54 votes are needed, and the opposition needs 

to secure the votes of 18 more MPs. If the resolution is adopted, the 

Prime Minister is considered to have resigned.

It should be remembered that if a draft resolution of the National 

Assembly on expressing no confidence in the Prime Minister is not 

adopted, then such a draft can be presented no earlier than six 

months later. A draft resolution of the National Assembly on 

expressing no confidence in the Prime Minister cannot be submitted 

during a state of emergency or martial law.