PM Nikol Pashinian’s Civil Contract Party Wins Armenian Polls
The country has repeatedly asserted its desire to join the European Union, something that Moscow has not taken kindly to.
By IAR Desk
Incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party Civil Contract has won the general elections in Armenia held in Sunday, 7 June.
There were three other contenders in a landmark election that is also thought to be setting the foreign policy orientation of the republic.
The other parties in the fray were “Strong Armenia”, “Armenia” and “Prosperous Armenia”.
More than 1.47 million Armenians participated in the June 7 vote, representing a turnout of 58.97% of registered voters.
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Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party won 49.81% of the vote in Sunday’s parliamentary election. The vote was widely seen as decisive for Armenia’s future geopolitical direction, with Pashinyan campaigning on closer ties with the European Union while maintaining a fragile relationship with Russia
The victory of the incumbent party is expected to continue its foreign policy trajectory of drawing closer to the European Union, a move disapproved of by the Kremlin.
Pashinyan had campaigned on closer ties with the European Union.
In recent times Armenia has increasingly been at loggerheads with Moscow and it’s participation in Moscow -led initiatives.
In 2024 Armenia froze it’s participation in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) over alleged Moscow indifference towards it during the Armenia -Azerbaijan border conflict. Even earlier Yerevan had alleged that Moscow had failed to fulfill its obligations to its CSTO partner during the war with Azerbaijan and the loss of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave to Baku.
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The South Caucasian country is, instead, trying to diversify it’s strategic partnerships. While this includes those like China, more recently Armenia has upgraded ties with Moscow e vala US and France to that of a strategic partnership.
It is also currently negotiating a peace treaty with longtime rival and neighbour Azerbaijan.
In recent times it has also taken steps to normalise relations with Turkey, with whom it has historically complicated relations.
In May this year Armenia hosted the 8th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Yerevan, bringing together nearly 50 world leaders and international organizations. It was the first time that a country in the South Caucuses has hosted the summit since its launch in 2022.
Downgrading Ties With Russia
The country has repeatedly asserted its desire to join the European Union, something that Moscow has not taken kindly to.
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On the eve of the elections Russia imposed a number of economic restrictions on the country. It stopped the import of flowers and agro-commodities from Armenia and threatened to stop gas supplies and restrict the entry of Armenian workers to Russia.
Armenia is part of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) from which it derived significant economic benefits. It is also heavily dependent on Russia for subsidised energy imports, investments, and as a substantial export and labour market.
Russia has threatened to terminate Armenia ‘s EEU membership should the country join the EU, and has urged a referendum on the same
Post his victory Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed Armenia is currently not ready for European Union membership.
“A referendum will take place when there is a subject for a referendum. And the subject of a referendum must be, at minimum, an official application by Armenia to join the European Union, or Armenia having the status of a European Union member state,” Pashinyan said.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the impressive victory of the Civil Contract Party in the 2026 parliamentary elections.
“I congratulate Mr. Nikol Pashinyan on the impressive victory of the Civil Contract Party in the parliamentary elections. This mandate reflects anew the unwavering faith and trust of the Armenian people in your leadership and vision. I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen the warm and historic bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Armenia.”
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