Pashinyan era continues to strengthen in Armenia following elections

The general elections held in Armenia on Sunday were closely watched following the country's turbulent period in recent years. According to the initial results of the elections, the Civil Contract Party, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, took the lead again by receiving 54.5 percent of the votes. In a press conference, Pashinyan declared his victory, describing the result as a "historic triumph."

With approximately 21 percent of the ballots counted, the main opposition, the pro-Russian Strong Armenia Alliance, came in second with 21.9 percent. This party, led by businessman Samvel Karapetyan, emphasized the importance of maintaining ties with Russia during its election campaign. On the other hand, the Armenia Alliance reached a vote share of 8.7 percent, while the Prosperous Armenia Party remained at approximately 5 percent.

The elections stand out as the first major political test held in Armenia following the military defeat suffered against Azerbaijan in 2023. In the country of approximately 3 million people, the public has once again supported the current government in its pursuit of closer ties with the West. Experts state that the strong performance of the Civil Contract Party could accelerate peace negotiations with Azerbaijan and ensure the continuation of normalization efforts with Turkey.

Since Pashinyan first took office, his efforts to strengthen relations with the West have been prominent, and it appears that these policies have been endorsed in the election. The opposition, meanwhile, headed to the polls advocating for closer cooperation with Moscow, particularly in foreign policy.

The Central Election Commission of Armenia is expected to announce the official election results later today. The picture emerging from the polls will shape the steps the country will take in the coming period regarding both peace negotiations with Azerbaijan and the normalization of diplomatic relations with Turkey.