YEREVAN, May 18 (Xinhua) — Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan issued a decree on Thursday, accepting the resignation of the government led by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, Armenpress reported.
According to the Armenian constitution, the government has to resign on the first day of work of the newly elected parliament. The president then has to appoint a new prime minister within 10 days after the government's resignation, after which a new government must be formed within the next 20 days.
The newly elected parliament held its first session on Thursday.
Members of the incumbent government will continue fulfilling their responsibilities until their replacements are nominated.
Considering the recent agreement on forming a coalition between the ruling Republican Party and Armenian Revolution Federation Party, the new government could be formed by these two political forces.
On Wednesday, Eduard Sharmazanov, the spokesman of the ruling Republican Party, said that his party would suggest to the president that incumbent prime minister Karapetyan remain in office.
On April 2, Armenia held its first parliamentary elections following the referendum on constitutional changes that took place on December 6, 2015.
These changes have put the country on the course of becoming a parliamentary republic upon the expiration of the president's second term in April, 2018. The Republican Party of Armenia has a parliamentary majority, holding 58 of 105 seats.