"Unprecedented" elections in Armenia: the reaction of observers

The "My Step" bloc of Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan won the extraordinary elections held on December 9 in the country. International observers stated that all fundamental freedoms were respected during the election, as this election was characterized by "great public trust". The journalists said that these elections were qualitatively different from all the previous ones. And the former ruling Republican party, which failed to break through the barrier of passage, described the extraordinary elections as democratic in form, but not in content.

Election Results

• Nikol Pashinyan – Former Leader of the Opposition, Leading the Government of Armenia in May 2018 Following the Resignation of the Newly Elected Prime Minister by Serzh Sargsyan . It now has a parliamentary majority that will promote its programs to fight corruption and reform the economy.
• Nine months ago, hundreds of thousands of people took part in the protests, which resulted in a change of peaceful government and the emergence of hopes of a more democratic government in the country. According to preliminary data of the CEC of Armenia, the votes were distributed as follows:

Block My Step "- 70.43%;

The party" Armenia Prosper "- 8.27%; [19659006] Party "Lusavor Hayastan" ("Armenian educated") – 6.37%;

Republican Party of Armenia – 4.70%;

ARF Party "Dashnaktsutyun" – 3.89%;

19659006] Bloc "We" – 2.00%;

Pan-Armenian Party "Sasna Tserer" – 1.82%;

Party "Orinats Yerkir" – 0.99%;

Social Democratic Party "Citizens' Decision" 0.68%;

"Christian Democratic Renaissance" Party "Progressive National Party" – 0.33%

• The ruling Republican Party, the former ruling party, will no longer be represented in Parliament It failed to overcome the 5% barrier to entering Parliament.
• Voter turnout was 48.6%, about 12% lower than in previous parliamentary elections. April 2017. [19659017] Nicole Pashinyan: We have already achieved our goal. This is a truly free, transparent and democratic election. #

  Observer's Response

  • The Monitoring Mission, which included representatives of the OSCE, stated that the elections "respected fundamental freedoms and enjoyed broad public confidence, which needed to be preserved by
  • also stated that "an open political debate, including in the media, has contributed to a relatively active campaign, although cases of inflammatory rhetoric on the Internet have caused concern," the statement said.
  • "The General Absence of Electoral VoicesFailures, including the corruption of votes and pressure on voters, have made possible real competition," observers observed.
  • "Now Voters have said their word, Armenian political leaders must ensure that this momentum is maintained to allow the continuation of reforms. , in order to fully consolidate the positive assessment that we make today, "said Peter Osueski, special coordinator and head of the OSCE's short-term observation mission
  • Armenia has been overshadowed by fraud
  • It is possible to state that the results of the extraordinary legislative elections reflect the opinion of the people, said the head of Transparency International's Central Anti-Corruption Center, Sona Ayvazyan. [19659025] Reactions of Journalists
    • Ten Armenian journalists arrested on December 10 who noted that the elections in Armenia differed qualitatively from all the previous ones in terms of favorable conditions for journalists and the media, reported the Armenian Radio Liberty service.
    • Pashinyan previously praised the "cheater." Ki and transparent "election and told reporters:" Citizens s of our country vote for a revolutionary majority, and they do so in a calm environment.

    Reactions of the Republican Party

    • But the Republican Party in Power, in Power, Calls the Extraordinary Democratic Parliamentary Elections to Full Form, but Not Content
    • "They were detained in a state of" Intolerance to dissent, strong pressure on candidates and their supporters, leaders of local self-government and hate propaganda, with unprecedented use. annyam administrative resources. One of the main objectives of the transition to a parliamentary model of public administration was to create the possibility of combining different or even opposing views. It is therefore unfortunate that the election campaign has created such deep lines of split, "the statement said.

    Foreign Policy

    • After Pashinyan came to power, he had promised that no change seriousness would not occur in the foreign policy of Armenia., and he also assured that he would not break relations with Moscow.
    • There is a Russian military base in Armenia, it is also a member Military-economic alliances led by Russia In November 2017, Armenia received a loan of 100 million from Russia for the payment of Russian arms.
    • In August 2018 , at a demonstration in the honor of a hundred days of his government, Pashinyan had assured that relations with Moscow resulting from the change of power in the country would not deteriorate., but "good and will become even better . "
    • A long conflict duration continues between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan through the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan assured that he would adhere to the existing policy regarding the long-term problem of Nagorno-Karabakh.