Armenians head to polls for parliamentary elections

ANKARA (AA) – Armenian voters head to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2017 parliamentary elections.

Over 2.5 million Armenians are eligible to vote for the country’s new parliament at 2,000 polling stations. Hundreds of local and international monitors are observing the voting process.

Nine political parties are contesting in the elections for 101 seats in the parliament.

It is the first nationwide election after the 2015 constitutional amendments that changed to a 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.

According to polls, Republican Party of Armenia currently with 66 seat in parliament are expected to win. Sargsyan has been in power since 2008.