The official results of the parliamentary elections in Armenia, held on June 7, have been announced. The victory was secured by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s “Civil Contract” party, which garnered 49.81% of the vote.
Second place went to Samvel Karapetyan’s “Strong Armenia” with 23.29%. Robert Kocharyan’s “Armenia” alliance came in third, securing 9.94%.
According to the country’s electoral system, “Civil Contract” receives 61 out of 107 seats, ensuring a parliamentary majority and the ability to form a government without a coalition.
At the same time, the ruling power falls short of a constitutional majority (72 seats), which maintains limitations on fundamental-level changes.
However, the main significance of these elections extends far beyond the arithmetic of votes.
In public discourse, these elections are increasingly viewed as a sort of referendum on the country’s geopolitical orientation and the permissible boundaries of external actors’ influence on Armenia’s domestic policy.
The campaign took place under intense foreign scrutiny and high-stakes information warfare. It centered on the competition between different strategic vectors of state development—ranging from strengthening sovereign policy to maintaining or restoring closer ties with Russia.
In this context, some of the political forces that entered parliament are associated in the public sphere with big business and former elites who maintained close contacts with various external centers of influence, including the Russian vector.
This specifically refers to Robert Kocharyan’s alliance and the political force linked to Samvel Karapetyan, both of which are traditionally perceived as pro-Russian segments of the political spectrum.
The electoral process itself warrants distinct mention. Despite political tensions, the voting and counting processes were conducted transparently, featuring video surveillance, online monitoring, and high public visibility of procedures. International observers generally noted the competitive nature of the elections and a proper level of process organization.
As a result, Nikol Pashinyan’s “Civil Contract” secured a parliamentary majority of 61 seats, retaining the capability to form a government and execute policy without coalition partners.
The key takeaway is that Armenia navigated the elections amidst external pressure and domestic political polarization, solidifying the incumbent model of governance without a radical shift in course and confirming the government’s pro-Western vector.
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Author: Olena Shevchuk
Photo: from open sources