The Parliamentary election in Armenia, May 2007.

Baltic Worlds, 2017

This paper will assess the 2 April 2017 parliamentary elections. To do that, first it will briefly depict the background of the elections, namely, Armenia’s path from strong presidentialism to parliamentarism, and the socio-political context within which the elections were held. These will be followed by the short description of the election process and the results. The final part of the paper will assess the results of the elections and offer some forecasts on the future of the Armenian politics.

Baltic Worlds, 2017

2013

The Regional Studies Center (RSC) held a special briefing on 23 January, offering a special assessment of the upcoming Armenian presidential election. The briefing presentation focused on five specific aspects of the Armenian pre-election situation: (1) general pre-election observations; (2) an analysis of the election campaign; (3) an identification of five specific election challenges; (4) implications from the election; and (5) election surprises. The summary notes from the presentation are attached, and a separate longer pre-election assessment report is also available separately. Although this special pre-election briefing was devoted to only one topic, it is part of a broader series of closed monthly briefings, providing an informal “off-the-record” closed discussion of current developments in Armenia and the broader region. As an independent “think tank,” the Regional Studies Center (RSC) offers this series of closed monthly briefings as an important source of objective analysis and information on a regular monthly basis, serving a target audience of representatives of the diplomatic community and international organizations in Armenia.

In one of Armenia's least competitive elections, incumbent Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian looks certain to be re-elected to a second term. But with an especially weak field of candidates, the lack of real competition may only exacerbate the need for sufficient voter turnout. It also increases pressure for a much improved ballot this time and, if as expected, President Sarkisian secures reelection, he will face raised expectations and greater demands for reform.

A constitutional referendum is expected to take place in Armenia by the end of the year. In the event of a positive popular vote, the current semi-presidential political system will be transformed into a parliamentary one. At this stage, the reform is strongly favoured by the ruling party, the Republican Party (HHK) while the opposition is divided.

Armenian Journal of Political Science , 2017

The process of the restoration of independence along with Nagorno-Karabakh's self-determination issue was the first major political problem the Armenian political parties faced. The article examines the formation of a multiparty system in Armenia in the context of that process. Armenian political parties took their part in the process while having principle disagreements concerning the alternatives of road, timeline and means of achieving the independence. Definitely seeking to independence, Armenian political parties were suggesting completely different roadmaps of handling the process. Simultaneously, these disagreements led to inter-party ideological debate. Thus, this article has an objective to discuss the debate by presenting comprehensive attitude of parties towards independence. It is important to identify the role of political parties and the fight between them in the process of independence in terms of studying the history of the Third Republic and the formation of a multi-party system in Armenia. With the approaching referendum on independence, the stances of the Armenian political forces were crystallized and finally, on the eve of the referendum, all Armenian political forces came to an agreement.

Armenian parliamentary elections were held on 6 May 2012. Five parties and a coalition won seats in Parliament. Three of them are opposition parties, two in the previous legislature were allies of the presidency party, the Republican Party. The latter comfortably won the elections. With 45% votes through the proportional system and 29 seats through the majoritarian one, the Republican Party has the absolute majority of seats, 69 out of 131. So the two main issues in Armenian foreign policy -the protracted conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and relations with Turkey -will be addressed in continuity with the policy expressed so far by President Serzh Sargsyan, unless the regional counterparts change their strategies. With the party he chairs being confirmed as the leading political force of the country, Sargsyan will run for his second term in the upcoming presidential elections.

2017

As Armenia prepares for a parliamentary election on 2 April, the coming contest has already been marred by pronounced polarisation and deep division. With Armenia moving to a full parliamentary form of government, writes Richard Giragosian, the election will be particularly significant and could very well shape the future of the country.