President Khachaturyan Reappoints Nikol Pashinyan as Armenian Prime Minister

President Vahagn Khachaturyan reappointed Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister on August 2, 2026, following the first session of the newly elected National Assembly. The appointment comes after Pashinyan's Civil Contract party won 64 of 105 seats in the June 7 parliamentary elections with a 59% voter turnout.

In accordance with the Armenian constitution, the previous government submitted its resignation on August 2. During the signing ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Khachaturyan emphasized the necessity of principled leadership and cooperation with the political opposition to strengthen national sovereignty. Pashinyan acknowledged the commitment of the Armenian people since the 2018 velvet revolution and stated that his new cabinet will be formed in the near future; meanwhile, current ministers remain in a caretaker capacity.

The first parliamentary session was marked by controversy because the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II, was not invited. This exclusion reflects ongoing tensions between the Pashinyan administration and church leadership regarding national security and Armenia's relations with Azerbaijan.