Armenia's acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has won a convincing victory in Sunday's snap parliamentary election, consolidating his authority.

His bloc won more than 70% of the vote, according to near-complete results.

A journalist turned politician, Mr Pashinyan spearheaded a peaceful revolution in April.

He has now secured a parliamentary majority to push through his programme of tackling corruption and reforming the economy.

Voter turnout has been low, at about 49%.

Historically, Armenia's elections have been marred by fraud and vote-buying - but correspondents said there was hope that this one would be different.

International observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were among those monitoring the process.

The centrist My Step Alliance, which includes Mr Pashinyan's Civil Contract Party, won 70.45% of the vote, according to official results from 90% of precincts.

Its nearest rival, the moderate Prosperous Armenia party won just over 8%. Led by tycoon and arm-wrestling champion Gagik Tsarukyan, it was part of the ruling coalition in the outgoing parliament.

Bright Armenia, a liberal pro-Western party, won about 6% of the vote, the commission said.

Each party needs at least 5% of the vote to enter the 101-seat National Assembly, while blocs need 7% or more.

Armenia's constitution states that 30% of seats in parliament must go to opposition parties.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1016 HRS, DEC 10, 2018
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