Post-foundation history

The post of the president of Armenia was founded by the decision of Armenian SSR Supreme Council of May 3, 1990.^[5]

On June 21, 1991, RA Supreme Council made a decision which determined that an election based on the common and equal electoral rights of the citizens of RA would take place before December 31 of 1991. On the basis of RA Supreme Council's decision of June 25, 1991, the elections of the president of the Republic of Armenia were scheduled to be held on Wednesday, October 16, 1991.

Armenia became an independent state on 21 September 1991 after the independence referendum earlier that year. The first presidential election was held on 17 October 1991. Levon Ter-Petrosyan won the majority of the votes and became the first president of independent Armenia. He was re-elected in 1996; however, he did not finish his second term as president and resigned in 1998. Robert Kocharyan followed him in the office until 2008. President Serzh Sargsyan was elected in February 2008 and re-elected in February 2013 for a second term until 2018. Armen Sarkissian replaced him as president on 9 April 2018, and he was in turn replaced by the current office holder Vahagn Khachaturyan on 13 March 2022.

Election process until constitutional changes in 2015

The elections of the president are held according to the procedures defined by the Constitution and the law. The president of the republic used to be elected by the citizens of the Republic of Armenia for a five-year term of office. Every person having attained the age of thirty-five, having been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia for the preceding ten years, having permanently resided in the Republic for the preceding ten years, and having the right to vote was eligible to be elected as president of the republic. The same person could not be elected for the post of the president of the republic for more than two consecutive terms. The election of the president of the republic was held fifty days prior to the expiration of their term of office according to the procedure defined by the Constitution and the law. The candidate who had received more than half of the votes is elected president of the republic.

If the election involves more than two candidates and none of them receives the required number of votes, a second round of election is held on the fourteenth day following the voting. The two candidates having received the highest number of votes may participate in the second round of election of the president of the republic. In the second round the candidate who receives the highest number of votes is elected president of the republic. If only one candidate runs for the election, they can be elected if they receive more than half of the votes of electors participated in the polls. If the president of the republic is not elected, a new election is appointed and the voting is held on the fortieth day following the date of appointment of the new election. The president of the republic takes office on the day when the term of office of the previous president expires. If the president of the republic is elected by new or extraordinary elections, they shall take office on the twentieth day following the elections.

In case if insuperable obstacles for one of the candidates arise, the elections of the president of the republic should be held off for two weeks. In case if the insuperable obstacles are not removed, new elections should be held upon end of the two-week term, on the fortieth day. In case of decease of one of the candidates before the elections day, new elections are held, and the voting takes place on the fortieth day after the appointment of the new election day.

If the president of the republic resigns, passes out, is incapable to perform their duties or is removed from office extraordinary elections are held on the fortieth day following the vacancy of the office of the president. During martial law or state emergency election of the president should not be held and the president in this case continues their responsibilities. The new election of the President of Republic is held fortieth day after the expiration of the term of the martial law or state of emergency ^[6]

Oath

The president of the republic assumes their duties as stated in the law. In National Assembly's special session the President should swear the following oath to the people "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".^[7]

Roles in the executive branch

According to Article 1 of the Law^[9] on the President of the Republic of Armenia adopted on August 1, 1991, the president is the head of the executive branch. However, this term ceased to exist in 2007. The president of the Republic should deliver addresses to the people and the National Assembly.

Roles in the legislative branch

The president of the Republic signs and promulgates the laws passed by the National Assembly. Within the period of twenty-one days they may remand the law passed by the National Assembly and return it in form of a letter, where they note their objections and recommendations and requests new deliberations on the issue. After the recommendations and objections of the president are considered, they should, within five days, sign and promulgate the law readopted by the National Assembly. The president has the power to dissolve National Assembly^[12] and hold extraordinary elections if the National Assembly does not give an approval to the program of the Government two times in succession within two months. The president of Republic may also dissolve the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the chairman of the National Assembly or the prime minister in the following cases:

1. If the National Assembly fails within three months to resolve on the draft law that was considered to be urgent by the decision of the Government;
2. If in the course of a regular session no sittings of the National Assembly are convened within three months;
3. If in the course of a regular session the National Assembly fails, for more than three months, to adopt a resolution on issues under consideration.

The president of the Republic also has the power to:

• Put a veto on the decision of the National Assembly to adopt a law;
• Initiate the amendment of the constitution.

Roles in the judicial branch

The president of the Republic of Armenia appoints 4 members of the Constitutional Court and, if the National Assembly fails to appoint the president of the Constitutional Court in the period prescribed in Article 83 Clause 1 of the Constitution,^[14] appoints the president of the Constitutional Court from among the members of the Constitutional Court.

They may, on the basis of a conclusion of the Constitutional Court terminate the powers of any of their appointees in the Constitutional Court or give their consent to involve the member as an accused, detain them, or authorize to institute a court proceeding to subject them to administrative liability. Upon the recommendation of the Council of Justice, the president appoints the presidents and the judges of the Court of Cassation and its chambers, the Court of Appeal, First Instance Court and specialized courts.

The president appoints two legal scholars as members of the Council of Justice. They can also grant pardon to convicted persons and suggest the National Assembly to declare an amnesty.

Powers of the president of the Republic of Armenia in the field of defense

The president of the Republic of Armenia is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces. The president of the Republic of Armenia coordinates the activities of state bodies in the field of defense and states:

• the main directions of the military policy, including national security strategy and military doctrine,
• the structure of the Armed Forces,
• plans for the development of the Armed Forces of the other troops, the use of the armed forces, the deployment of the Armed Forces, mobilization plans of the Armed Forces, the Republican plan for civil defense,
• defence plan for operational equipment in the Republic of Armenia, the state program of development of the military–industrial complex, armaments and military equipment,
• lists of posts of senior commanders, senior officers of the positions and their respective officers of higher ranks of the Armed Forces and other troops;

They also appoint and dismiss the supreme command of the Armed Forces and other troops, confer the highest military ranks.

In the case of an armed attack on the Republic of Armenia, in the presence of an immediate threat or a declaration of war leads to martial law, the president decides on the use of the armed forces and can declare general or partial mobilization. They can also appoint and dismiss the commander of the Armed Forces during the war.

The president decides the participation of Armed Forces in peacekeeping or military operations outside the territory of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with international treaties of the Republic of Armenia.

President publishes a decree on compulsory military service and demobilization and carries out other statutory powers in the field of defense.^[15]

Management and control of the armed forces

The general management of the armed forces is implemented by the president of Republic of Armenia as the supreme commander of the Armed Forces. But If the president does not have a parliamentary majority or parliamentary political vector is contrary to the president, the president lacks the rights to bring their decisions to life.

Direct management of the Armed Forces is realized by the minister of defense of the Republic of Armenia, which organizes and controls the activities of the Armed Forces and other agencies and organizations within the system of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia.

The management of the Armed Forces is exercised by the chief of the general staff, which is the highest military officer of the Armed Forces.^[15]

Martial law

Presidential powers on ensuring the legal regime of martial law

The president manages the process to ensure the legal regime of martial law. In accordance with "Legal Regime of Martial Law" law, the President establishes the legal regime of martial law, providing for temporary measures and restrictions, the legal regime of martial law ensuring bodies and powers authorities, as well as ensures the implementation of measures and temporary restrictions on control of the legal regime of martial law. They can also announce general or partial mobilization and establish procedures for military service during the validity period of martial law.

The president also implements the legal regime of martial law aimed at ensuring the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, this Law and other laws of other powers.^[16]

Impeachment

The president may be impeached for treason or other grave crimes. In order to obtain a conclusion on impeaching the president of the Republic, the National Assembly appeals to the Constitutional Court by a resolution adopted by the majority of the total number of deputies. The resolution to remove the president of the Republic from office is passed by the National Assembly by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of deputies, based on the conclusion of the Constitutional Court. If the Constitutional Court concludes that there are no grounds for impeaching the president of the Republic the impeachment is removed from the agenda of the National Assembly.

Health issues

In case of serious illness of the president of the Republic or other insurmountable obstacles which make it impossible for the President to perform their responsibilities, the National Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Government, the conclusion of the Constitutional Court and with a minimum of two-thirds majority vote of the total number of its members, adopts a decision that states the incapacity of the president of the Republic to discharge their powers. If the Constitutional Court concludes that there are reasons for the incapacity of the president of the Republic to discharge their responsibilities, the Government cannot apply to the National Assembly with such an issue.

Election Results

Presidential elections were held on March 2, 2018,^[19] and per the constitutional reforms implemented by the ruling party, it was the first time in Armenia's history when the president was elected by the National Assembly instead of a popular vote.^[20]

Following the resignation of Armen Sarkissian in January 2022, the ruling Civil Contract Party nominated Vahagn Khachaturyan for the presidency.^[21] He was elected president by the Armenian parliament in the second round of voting.^[22] He was inaugurated on 13 March 2022.^[23]