New Artsakh president to be elected in 10 days

May 21 marks the end of Samvel Shahramanyan’s term as Artsakh president, a role he assumed on September 9, 2023. Despite the expiration of his mandate, no new presidential elections are scheduled for today.

Under Artsakh’s constitution, presidential elections must take place no sooner than 7 days and no later than 10 days after the current term ends. During this period, candidates can register for the race.

In an interview with Panorama.am, Metakse Hakobyan, an MP from the Justice faction, explained that due to the extraordinary situation given that normal political processes are no longer possible in Artsakh, constitutional amendments were made to preserve the presidential institution without relying on public elections.

Under the revised law, the new Artsakh president will be elected by the National Assembly. A candidate must secure at least two-thirds of the votes (22 MPs) to be elected. Each of the five factions can nominate a candidate once registration opens in the coming hours.

Hakobyan emphasized the need for unity and consensus around a single candidate, adding that her faction does not plan to nominate anyone independently. She hinted at possible support for the current leadership, saying, “We are inclined to keep things as they are.”

The new president of Artsakh is expected to be elected within the next 10 days.