President's party wins Armenia election

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s ruling Republican Party has won Sunday’s crucial general election, local media reported on Monday.

According to unofficial results from Armenia’s Central Elections Commission, the Republican Party of Armenia secured 49.21 percent of the vote.

The Tsarukyan bloc -- led by businessman and former champion arm wrestler Gagik Tsarukyan -- was the next largest group on 27.38 percent. The opposition Yelk bloc secured 7.72 percent.

Voter turnout in the country of just under 3 million people was around 61 percent.

It was the first nationwide election after 2015’s constitutional changes which ushered in a parliamentary form of government in the former Soviet republic.

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

Sargsyan has been in power since 2008 and his term as president ends next year.