Nikol Pashinyan chairs his first cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan convened the cabinet on Friday morning for the first regular meeting since his appointment to office.

Pashinyan had eariler issued a decision to make the cabinet meetings open-door to allow the presence of the media.

Under the Constitution of Armenia, the cabinet is formed within fifteen days after the prime minister's appointment. Also within five days after taking office, the premier proposes candidates for the vice and deputy prime ministers, and members of the executive to the president. After the cabinet's formation within 20 days, the prime minister submits the Government program to the National Assembly.

The National Assembly is then given seven days to approve the program by a majority of votes. In case of a failure to do so (and to elect a prime minister), the National Assembly is dissolved. In case of electing the prime minister without approving the government program, the National Assembly is again dissolved with force of law.