National Assembly elected three new Judges of the Constitutional Court
Armenia's National Assembly elected three new members of the Constitutional Court in a secret vote during its session on Tuesday. 88 out of 132 lawmakers took part in the voting, the Chairman of the NA Counting Commission Vahagn Hovakimyan said. Opposition fractions refused to take part in the voting, naming the process 'unconstitutional'.
To remind, the government had nominated Edgar Shatiryan as a Constitutional Court judge, the president’s nominee for the post is Artur Vagharshyan, while the General Assembly of Judges has named Yervand Khundkaryan as its candidate. Khundkarayn's candidacy received 84 in favor and 2 against votes.
86 lawmakers voted in favor of Artur Vagharshyan's candidacy, while one voted against. Edgar Shatiryan's candidacy was supported by 85 in favor votes.
Following the vote, the Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan announced that the newly elected judges will take oath at parliament. The inauguration will take place later, as two of the judges are set to resign from their former posts.
The election at the National Assembly came after the parliament adopted constitutional changes earlier this year, calling for the immediate replacement of the Constitutional Court chairman and three judges of Armenia’s top court.