The leader of protests that forced out Armenia's long-time ruler last month has been appointed prime minister, paving the way for new elections in the former Soviet republic.

Nikol Pashinian, an opposition member of parliament, was confirmed to the post with a vote of 59-42 while his supporters rallied outside. Several ruling party members backed him after helping prevent his election in a vote last week.

“I want us to underline that the victory is not that I became prime minister, the victory is that you chose who will be prime minister,” he told a crowd on Republic Square in the capital Yerevan.

The new leader has promised to reform the electoral codex and hold parliamentary elections in the nation of three million bordered by Turkey, Iran, Georgia and Azerbaijan. He called for an end to corruption and political persecution.