The atmosphere in Armenia’s parliament was tense again today, due to the fact that the majority Republican Party was unable to gather a quorum to start the legislative session.

When the minority factions realized that the Republican Party, with its 70 MPs, failed to assemble the required 66 needed for a quorum, they walked out of the chamber along with the five deputies of the Rule of Law faction.

With only 63 Republican Party MPs present, parliamentary speaker Galust Sahakyan was forced to declare a three hour recess.

Republican Party faction head Vahram Baghdasaryan stated that some of his MPs were away on parliament related business and that they would soon return.

When Baghdasaryan said that two MPs had already arrived in the space of five minutes, HAK faction head Levon Zurabyan joked, “Dig and poke around and bring them.”

After the recess, an additional three Republican Party MPs registered, thus garnering the 66 needed for a quorum.

Parliamentary speaker Sahakyan chided the opposition for attempting to undermine the work of the legislature.