- WIADOMOŚCI
Strategic victory: Pashinyan secures pro-Western mandate
The party of incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has won the parliamentary elections, securing 49.81 percent of the vote. Will the government be able to continue its pro-European pivot?
Strong Armenia, the Armenia Alliance, and Prosperous Armenia also gained entry into parliament. All of these groupings are pro-Russian in nature. Voter turnout stood at 58.97 percent. A precise distribution of mandates has not yet been announced. Armenia’s unicameral parliament consists of at least 101 deputies. Their number may increase depending on compensation mechanisms designed to ensure a majority. In the last parliamentary term, 107 deputies were seated. A seat distribution is expected that will allow Pashinyan’s party to govern independently.
The Open Caucasus Media portal reports that the results should translate into 58 seats for Civil Contract, 27 for Strong Armenia, 11 for the Armenia Alliance, and 5 for Prosperous Armenia. Meanwhile, the 301.am portal predicts 61 seats for Pashinyan’s party, 28 for Strong Armenia, and 11 and 5 for the remaining groupings.
While the final allocation of specific seats in parliament may vary depending on compensation mechanisms, Civil Contract is certain to receive an absolute majority regardless of the final calculation. It appears that Nikol Pashinyan will be the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history, as he has held the office since 2018.
However, the winning party will not obtain the two-thirds majority necessary to initiate the process of adopting a new constitution, as proposed by Pashinyan. This change is a condition set by Azerbaijan, essential for completing the peace process. Normalising relations with its neighbour is a core component of Pashinyan’s platform. Furthermore, the politician aims to strengthen Armenia’s ties with the West and reduce the state’s reliance on the Russian Federation.
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The election campaign was conducted in a tense atmosphere, with reports of Russian disinformation operations. The authorities arrested several representatives of pro-Russian opposition parties, alleging electoral crimes. Despite the ultimate victory of Pashinyan’s party, Armenian society remains polarised.
