Armenia’s ruling Republican Party backed by President Serzh Sargsyan is leading in parliamentary election with 49.1 per cent of the votes.

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia said on Monday.

With more than 85 per cent of the precincts’ votes calculated, the closest rival Tsarukyan Alliance led by millionaire Gagik Tsarukyan has garnered 27.5 per cent of the votes, according to the commission.

Preliminary results also showed that the Republican Party’s junior coalition partner Armenian Revolutionary Federation and an opposition bloc known as YELQ (translated from Armenian as “A Way Out”) had passed the minimum threshold.

It received 6.7 per cent and 7.5 per cent of the votes respectively.

Related News

The voter turnover was reported by the commission to be 60.86 per cent from a total of about 2.5 million eligible voters.

Armenians went to the polling stations nationwide on Sunday to elect a new parliament that would have greater power after the constitutional amendments take effect on April 2018.

A total of five parties and four coalitions of parties took part in the election.

If no party or coalition of parties secures at least 54 per cent of what is called “stable majority” by the Armenian Electoral Code, a second round of election will be held between the two top finishers.

The final results of the elections will be announced by the commission within a week after the election, according to the Electoral Code. (NAN)