Catholicos will not participate in the first session of the Armenian parliament for the first time

For the first time in the history of Armenia, the Catholicos of All Armenians will not participate in the first session of the parliament of the new convocation.

Ob этом writes the newspaper «Graparak» with reference to its sources.
According to the publication, Echmiadzin has not yet received the corresponding invitation.
«The ruling team does not intend to send a special invitation to the Catholicos and will try to justify this by the fact that his presence is not an imperative requirement of the regulations, but is prescribed as «has the right to deliver a speech»,» writes the newspaper.
According to Article 33 of the constitutional law «Regulations of the National Assembly», at the first session the right to deliver a welcoming speech belongs to the president and the Catholicos of All Armenians.
It should be recalled that at the first session of all convocations of the parliament, including the previous one, the 8th convocation, the Catholicos delivered a speech blessing the parliamentarians.
The National Assembly of the 9th convocation will begin its work on August 3, 2026. According to the Constitution, the first session of the new parliament is convened after the formation of the National Assembly — no later than within 30 days.
The new parliament consists of 105 deputies; three political forces are represented in it: «Civil Contract» (64 mandates), «Strong Armenia» (29 mandates) «Armenia» (12 mandates).
Source: Sputnik Armenia