Armenia’s parliament is set to decide whether to back opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister as his supporters rally in the capital.Mr Pashinyan, who has led weeks of anti-government protests that forced former Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan to resign, is the only candidate.
He warned MPs of a “political tsunami” if they did not back him.
Armenia’s ruling Republican Party said earlier it would not put up a candidate, in a bid to ease tensions.
But the protest leader said that there were moves aimed at halting his bid and he urged protesters to stay on the streets in the centre of Yerevan to prevent the Republican Party from “stealing the people’s victory”.
Mr Sargsyan, who had served 10 years as president, stepped down last month days after being sworn in as PM. He had been accused of trying to cling to power.
All 47 opposition members of parliament have pledged to vote for Mr Pashinyan, but he will need votes from six Republican Party deputies to win the majority he needs in the 105-seat house. The Republican Party has dominated Armenian politics since 1999.
Mr Pashinyan, who has said he will rid Armenia of corruption, poverty and nepotism, called on his supporters to rally as parliament convened.
