Polls close in Armenia parliamentary elections

ANKARA

Polls to elect members of Armenia’s parliament closed at 7.00 p.m. on Sunday.

Over 2.5 million Armenians voters were eligible to vote for the country’s new parliament at 2,000 polling stations.

The turnout was 50.93 percent. Initial results will be announced on Monday.

Nine political parties contested for 131 seats at the parliament.

According to recent polls, President Serzh Sargsyan’s ruling Republican Party, which holds 69 seats in the parliament, is shown favorite at the elections.

Tsarukyan Alliance, which holds 33 seats in the parliament, follows the Republican Party. The alliance is led by Armenian millionaire Ganik Tsarukyan of Prosperous Armenia Party.

It is the first nationwide election after the 2015 constitutional amendments that changed to the parliamentary form of government.

With the amendments, the Armenian prime minister’s office will become more powerful while the presidency will be more of a ceremonial post elected by parliament.

Sargsyan has been in power since 2008.