The representation of women in the newly elected parliament is 33.6%

The Central Electoral Commission approved the mandates of the National Assembly of the 8th convocation by a protocol decision and published the names of the deputies. According to that, there will be 107 deputies in the newly elected parliament. 36 or 33.6% of them are women.

For the first time, the representation of women in the National Assembly exceeded the quota, which was greatly facilitated by the transition to a simple proportional electoral system without regional lists. It should be reminded that the political forces running in the snap parliamentary elections nominated an average of 33.6% of women candidates in their lists, which is more than the quota required by the Electoral Code, according to which the proportion of candidates in party lists is at least 30/70. Despite the significant increase in the representation of women in the parliament (women deputies made up 23% in the previous convocation), it is still not clear to what extent women will be represented in the leadership of the National Assembly. According to preliminary information, only men’s names are circulated to run for the post of speaker, vice-speakers, faction leaders…

24 or 34% of the 71 deputies of the “Civil Contract” faction are women. The representation of women in the party’s electoral list was also 34%.

Most of them are known to the public because they were represented in the National Assembly of the 7th convocation.  It should be noted that Lilit Makunts, who resigned from the list of “Civil Contract”, resigned from the mandate as she is leaving for the USA as the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, Acting Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan, who, according to rumors, will be reappointed to this post, Echmiadzin Mayor Diana Gasparyan.

10 or 34.5% of the 29 deputies of the “Hayastan” faction are women. The bloc included 31% of women candidates in its electoral list.

2 out of 7 deputies of the “I have honor” faction or 28.6% are women. The representation of women in the electoral list of the bloc was higher – 35%.

At the moment, it is not specified to what extent the women deputies will be represented in the leadership of the National Assembly, but some information is already available.

It is known that Hayk Konjoryan will be appointed the head of the faction, and the secretary will be a woman, MP Nazeli Baghdasaryan.

Former ministers Seyran Ohanyan and Artsvik Minasyan will assume the role of the leader and secretary of the “Hayastan” faction. Arthur Vanetsyan will be the head of the “I have honor” faction. There is no decision on the secretary yet.

Judging by the preliminary information, the presidency of the National Assembly of the 8th convocation will be represented exclusively by men, though one of the vice-speakers has been a woman since 2007: Arik Petrosyan, Hermine Naghdalyan, Arpine Hovhannisyan, Lena Nazaryan. Alen Simoyan is considered to be the candidate for the newly elected parliament speaker, Ruben Rubinyan and Hakob Arshakyan will be nominated for the positions of vice-speakers. The issue of the vice-president from the opposition is still being discussed, but the names of Ishkhan Zakaryan or Ishkhan Saghatelyan are already circulating in the press

The first sitting of the newly elected National Assembly will be convened on August 2. During the sitting, elections of the presidency of the parliament, chairmen of the commissions will take place

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