President of Armenia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Armenia
Presidential standard
Presidential seal
Incumbent Vahagn Khachaturyan since 13 March 2022
Style	Mr. President (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic, abroad)
Residence	Presidential Palace
Seat	Yerevan
Appointer	National Assembly
Term length	One seven-year term
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Armenia
Precursor	First Secretaries of the Communist Party of Armenia
Formation	11 November 1991
First holder	Levon Ter-Petrosyan
Deputy	President of the National Assembly
Salary	annual: AMD 15,873,600

The President of Armenia (which in Armenian is Hayastani Nakhagah) is the head of state for Armenia. This means they are the country's official leader. The president makes sure Armenia stays independent and keeps its land safe.

The president is chosen by the National Assembly of Armenia, which is like Armenia's parliament. They serve for one seven-year term. In Armenia's government system, the president mostly has ceremonial duties. This means they perform important official tasks, but most of the real political power belongs to the parliament and the Prime Minister.

Vahagn Khachaturyan has been serving as president since March 13, 2022.

What the President Does

The president works to protect the Constitution. They also make sure the government's different parts (like the executive and judicial branches) work smoothly. The president is the main person who guarantees Armenia's independence, land, and safety.

The president is protected from being sued or held responsible for things they do as president. This protection lasts during and after their time in office. However, they can be prosecuted for actions not related to their job after their term ends.

If the president's job becomes empty, the head of the National Assembly takes over. If that person cannot, the prime minister steps in. They do this until a new president is chosen.

How the President's Role Started

The job of President of Armenia began on May 3, 1990. This was decided by the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR.

Armenia became an independent country on September 21, 1991. This happened after a vote where people chose independence. The first election for president was held on October 17, 1991. Levon Ter-Petrosyan won and became the first president of independent Armenia.

He was re-elected in 1996. However, he resigned in 1998 before his second term ended. Robert Kocharyan then became president and served until 2008. After him, Serzh Sargsyan was president from 2008 to 2018. Armen Sarkissian took office in 2018. The current president, Vahagn Khachaturyan, started his term on March 13, 2022.

How the President is Elected

The president is elected following rules in the Constitution and other laws. Before 2015, citizens voted for the president for a five-year term. A person had to be at least 35 years old to run. They also needed to be an Armenian citizen for 10 years and live in Armenia for 10 years. A president could only serve two terms in a row.

The election used to happen 50 days before the current president's term ended. The candidate who received more than half of the votes won. If no one got enough votes, a second round of voting was held. The two candidates with the most votes would compete again. The one with the most votes in the second round would win.

If only one person ran, they needed more than half of the votes to win. If the president was not elected, a new election would be scheduled.

Taking the Oath

When a new president starts their job, they take an oath. This is a special promise. They say it during a special meeting of the National Assembly. The oath is: "Assuming the office of the President of the Republic of Armenia I swear to fulfill the requirements of the Constitution in an unreserved manner, to respect fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms, to ensure the protection, independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic to the glory of the Republic of Armenia and to the welfare of the people of the Republic of Armenia."

President's Powers and Duties

The president's powers are set by the Constitution. The president makes sure the government's executive, legislative, and judicial parts work well. They do not directly control these parts, but they can influence their actions.

Role in the Government

The president gives speeches to the people and the National Assembly.

Foreign Relations

The president represents Armenia to other countries. They guide Armenia's foreign policy. This means they decide how Armenia deals with other nations.

• They sign international agreements.
• They send agreements to the National Assembly to be approved.
• They appoint and remove Armenia's representatives in other countries.

Forming the Government

The president chooses the prime minister. This person must have the support of most lawmakers in the National Assembly. The president talks with different political groups to make this choice. If it is hard to choose, the president picks the person with the most support.

The government is formed within 20 days after the prime minister is chosen. The president also appoints and removes government members. This is done based on the prime minister's suggestions. The president can also appoint a deputy prime minister.

The president appoints people to state jobs. They also lead the National Security Council. They can create other advisory groups if needed.

Government Operations

The president sets the rules for how the government works. They can cancel a government decision for one month. Then, they can ask the Constitutional Court to review it. The president also approves decisions about appointing or removing governors.

The president can also call for a public vote (a referendum). This is done to make changes to the Constitution.

Government Resignation

The president accepts the government's resignation in certain situations:

• When a new National Assembly meets for the first time.
• When a new president starts their job.
• When the National Assembly votes that they do not trust the government.
• When the National Assembly does not approve the government's plan.
• When the prime minister resigns or the job becomes empty.

After the government resigns, its members continue their duties. They do this until a new government is formed.

Military Affairs

The president is the Commander-in-Chief of Armenia's armed forces. This means they are the top leader of the military. They guide government actions related to defense. They also appoint and remove top military commanders.

If Armenia is attacked or war is declared, the president can declare martial law. This is a special rule where the military takes control. They can also call for people to join the military. During a war, they can appoint or remove the Commander of the Armed Forces.

The president also gives out awards and medals. They promote military officers to higher ranks.

Martial Law and Emergencies

The president can declare martial law. However, during martial law, no new elections can be held. This means the current president could stay in power longer. So, the National Assembly reviews the president's reasons. They decide if there are good enough reasons to declare martial law.

If there is a big danger to the country's order, the president can declare a state of emergency. They do this after talking with the head of the National Assembly and the prime minister. They then take steps to deal with the situation and talk to the people.

Impact on Other Agencies

The president helps create different independent agencies. They suggest candidates for important jobs. These include the prosecutor general, the head of the Central Bank, and the head of the Control Chamber. They also appoint members to the Council of the Central Bank.

Other Issues

The president handles requests for Armenian citizenship. They also decide who gets political asylum. This is protection given to people who fear for their safety in their home country.

Role in Lawmaking

The president signs laws passed by the National Assembly. They then make them official. Within 21 days, the president can send a law back to the National Assembly. They include their concerns and suggestions. The National Assembly then reconsiders the law. After that, the president must sign and make the law official within five days.

The president can also dissolve the National Assembly. This means they can end its term early and call for new elections. This can happen if the National Assembly does not approve the government's plan twice in two months.

The president can also dissolve the National Assembly if:

• The National Assembly does not vote on an urgent law within three months.
• The National Assembly does not hold meetings for three months during a regular session.
• The National Assembly does not make decisions on issues for more than three months.

The president can also:

• Stop a law passed by the National Assembly from becoming official (this is called a veto).
• Suggest changes to the Constitution.

Role in the Justice System

The president appoints four members to the Constitutional Court. They also appoint the head of this court if the National Assembly does not.

The president can end the terms of their appointees to the Constitutional Court. This happens if the Constitutional Court agrees. The president also appoints judges to other courts. This includes the Court of Cassation, the Court of Appeal, and other courts.

The president appoints two legal experts to the Council of Justice. They can also grant pardons to people who have been found guilty of crimes. A pardon means their punishment is forgiven. The president can also suggest that the National Assembly declare an amnesty. An amnesty is a general pardon for a group of people.

Military Powers

The president is the supreme commander of Armenia's Armed Forces. They guide how government bodies work in defense. They set the main goals for military policy. This includes plans for the military's structure and development.

The president also decides if the Armed Forces will take part in peacekeeping missions. These are missions to help keep peace in other countries. They also decide if the military will join other operations outside Armenia. This is done according to international agreements.

The president issues orders for military service and for soldiers to leave the military. They also carry out other duties related to defense.

Martial Law

Declaring Martial Law

The president declares martial law if Armenia is attacked. They also do this if there is a clear danger or if war is declared. After martial law is declared, the National Assembly holds a special meeting.

What the Martial Law Declaration Includes

The declaration of martial law explains why it is needed. It says where martial law will be in effect. It also explains how it will be enforced and for how long. It lists what citizens and organizations must do during this time. The president's declaration is immediately shared on TV, radio, and in newspapers.

Rules During Martial Law

If martial law is declared, no elections are held. The National Assembly cannot be dissolved. The president and the National Assembly continue their duties during this time.

Ending the President's Term

A president's term ends if they resign, die, cannot do their job, or are removed from office. The president sends their resignation to the National Assembly.

Impeachment

The president can be removed from office for serious crimes like treason. The National Assembly asks the Constitutional Court to look into the case. If the court agrees there are reasons for removal, the National Assembly can vote. A two-thirds vote is needed to remove the president. If the court finds no reasons, the removal process stops.

Health Issues

If the president is very sick or cannot do their job for other reasons, the National Assembly can decide. They need a recommendation from the government and the Constitutional Court. If two-thirds of the lawmakers agree, they can declare the president unable to perform their duties.

Official Home

The president of Armenia lives at the Presidential Palace. It is located at Baghramyan Avenue 26 in Yerevan. Since 2018, a special guard company from the Ministry of Defense performs duties there. The gates are often open for visitors on weekends and for a short time on weekdays.

President Armen Sarkissian at the Presidential Palace.

Press Secretaries

Here are some people who have served as the president's Press Secretary:

• Ruben Shugaryan (1992–1993)
• Aram Abrahamyan (1993–1995)
• Levon Zurabyan (1995–1995)
• Kasia Abgaryan (1998–1999)
• Vahe Gabrielyan (1999–2003)
• Ashot Kocharyan (2003–2005)
• Viktor Soghomonyan (2005–2008)
• Samvel Farmanyan (2008–2010)
• Armen Arzumanyan (2010–2013)
• Arman Saghatelyan (2013–2015)
• Vladimir Hakobyan (since 2015)

List of Presidents

No.	Name (Born–Died)	Picture	Elected	Started Office	Left Office	Time in Office	Office Powers	Party
1	Levon Ter-Petrosyan (born 1946)		1991	November 11, 1991	November 11, 1996	6 years, 84 days	Head of Executive	Pan-Armenian National Movement
			1996	November 11, 1996	February 3, 1998 (Resigned)
2	Robert Kocharyan (born 1954)		—	February 3, 1998	April 9, 1998	10 years, 66 days		Independent
			1998	April 9, 1998	April 9, 2003
			2003	April 9, 2003	April 9, 2008
3	Serzh Sargsyan (born 1954)		2008	April 9, 2008	April 9, 2013	10 years		Republican Party
			2013	April 9, 2013	April 9, 2018
4	Armen Sarkissian (born 1952)		2018	April 9, 2018	February 1, 2022 (Resigned)	3 years, 298 days	State representation, Guarantor of Constitution	Independent
–	Alen Simonyan (born 1980)		—	February 1, 2022	March 13, 2022	40 days		Civil Contract
5	Vahagn Khachaturyan (born 1959)		2022	March 13, 2022	Current	3 years, 99 days		Independent

Recent Election Results

The 2018 Armenian presidential election happened on March 2, 2018. Due to new changes in the Constitution, it was the first time the president was chosen by the National Assembly. Before this, citizens voted directly.

After Armen Sarkissian resigned in January 2022, the ruling Civil Contract Party suggested Vahagn Khachaturyan for president. He was elected by the Armenian parliament in the second round of voting. He officially started his job on March 13, 2022.

Timeline of Presidents

Presidential Awards

The president of Armenia gives out several awards. These awards recognize important achievements in different fields:

• RA Presidential Award
• RA Presidential Youth Award in Classical Music
• RA Presidential Youth Award
• RA Presidential Award for Important Work in Recognizing the Armenian Genocide
• Global Award of the President of the Republic of Armenia for Outstanding Contribution to Humanity through IT (Global IT Award)
• Educational Awards of the President of the Republic of Armenia in Information Technologies

See also

• Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia
• List of leaders of Armenia
• President of the National Assembly of Armenia
• Prime Minister of Armenia
• Vice President of Armenia