Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s tactics ahead of Armenia’s upcoming elections are generating significant concerns. His assertions that the opposition intends to initiate a new war with Azerbaijan risk legitimizing potentially undemocratic and unconstitutional actions. Tigran Grigoryan reports on this developing situation.
With just two months remaining before the parliamentary elections, Armenia’s main political forces are actively campaigning. The ruling Civil Contract party is prominent, and its leadership’s statements are expected to shape the pre-election discourse. A key element of this discourse is Pashinyan’s claim that a war with Azerbaijan will erupt if the party is not re-elected, and that Armenia would suffer a devastating defeat.
On March 19th, he argued that opposition parties were preparing a new war, citing their reservations about the current peace process and the Trump Route initiative. Within days, he doubled down, stating a catastrophic war could occur as early as September 2026 if the party failed to secure a constitutional majority. He specifically identified the Strong Armenia Party (led by Samvel Karapetyan), Armenia Alliance (led by Robert Kocharyan), and Prosperous Armenia Party (led by Gagik Tsarukyan) as the “war party.” Pashinyan frames the opposition as a threat to Armenia’s security.
This rhetoric echoes previous instances, such as March 2024, when, during a meeting with residents of Voskepar, Pashinyan warned of war if certain villages were not transferred to Azerbaijan. This tactic, mirroring similar approaches used by the Georgian Dream party, elevates the stakes of the elections and justifies potentially authoritarian measures. The concern is that prioritizing perceived national security over democratic norms can lead to the justification of anti-democratic practices.
The situation raises questions about Armenia’s ‘strategic brand’ of democracy, with critics alleging it’s under attack. Pashinyan’s focus on sovereignty, often used to justify government actions, is now intertwined with the threat of war. This expands the space for justifying actions that may compromise democratic principles, suggesting that “democracy can wait” if regional peace is perceived to be at risk.
The pashinyan’s claims regarding the peace process and the potential for conflict are central to his campaign strategy.
Topics: #pashinyan #elections #risks
