Armenia's ruling Republican Party (RPA) approved on Thursday, September 8 former Yerevan mayor Karen Karapetyan's candidacy as the country's next Prime Minister, RPA Deputy Chairman Armen Ashotyan told reporters after a party session.

"Taking public, political and other signals into account, it was decided to move towards parliamentary elections with a new government," Ashotyan said.

According to him, Karapetyan was nominated unanimously.

The National Assembly has yet to approve him as the new premier.

It was earlier reported that PM Hovik Abrahamyan has submitted his resignation.