Moscow: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan Thursday signed a decree to dissolve government following the election of a new parliament. The dissolution followed the first session of the newly-elected parliament earlier in the day, Armenian media reported.

The proposal for the cabinet`s resignation was submitted to the president by Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan in line with the country`s Constitution which stipulates formation of a new government after parliamentary elections. Eight parties and one party alliance ran in Armenia`s May 6 parliamentary elections, with the Republican Party of Armenia eventually winning by gaining 44.05 percent of the vote. It won majority of the seats in the country`s 131-seat parliament.

The Armenian president has now 10 days to name the new prime minister and endorse other new ministers. The current cabinet will continue in a caretaker role until then. Opposition leaders had contested the results of the May 6 elections and submitted a motion with the Supreme Court of Armenia, but the court rejected it Thursday ruling that the results were fair.
IANS