Two independent MPs, Hakob Aslanyan and Hovik Aghazaryan, have nominated Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the Bright Armenia party, as their candidate for prime minister. Aghazaryan made the announcement via his Facebook page.

“As a member of MASK’s board, I am authorized to announce that by the decision of the board, MPs Hakob Aslanyan and Hovik Aghazaryan have been tasked with nominating Edmon Marukyan as prime minister in a draft parliamentary resolution expressing no confidence in the Prime Minister of Armenia. Marukyan is a former ambassador with special assignments and a former MP of the 5th, 6th, and 7th convocations,” wrote Aghazaryan.

Earlier, Aghazaryan had stated that he and Aslanyan were preparing to initiate impeachment proceedings against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the National Assembly, and that their likely candidate for prime minister would be a former member of the ruling Civil Contract party.

Previously, the Armenia faction unanimously reaffirmed its willingness to provide the signatures of its 28 MPs to initiate the no-confidence process, on the condition that the initiators secure the remaining 8 required signatures and publicly commit to mobilizing sufficient popular support for a successful impeachment. This was stated in a press release issued by the faction.