Daily Sabah (08 June 2026)

Hazel ÇAĞAN ELBİR

Pashinyan’s third victory signals Armenia’s turn toward peace, reform and regional normalization amid declining Russian influence.

The parliamentary elections held in Armenia yesterday represent a critical threshold that will shape not only the country’s domestic politics but also the broader geopolitical future of the South Caucasus. According to preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission (CEC), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party secured approximately 49.81% of the vote, winning 64 seats in the 105-member National Assembly and thereby obtaining a clear parliamentary majority.

Its closest rival, businessman Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia Alliance, which consists of Strong Armenia, New Era, and United Armenians parties, was widely regarded as Russia-oriented and received 23.3% and 29 seats. Former President Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance, which includes the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the center-right Forward Party, obtained around 9.9% and 12 seats.

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