The political situation that emerged following the June 7 parliamentary elections does not serve the interests of either the current government or the external forces that support it. This opinion was expressed by public figure Ara Vardanyan.
According to him, it was important for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to prevent the Prosperous Armenia Party from entering parliament. However, even under that scenario, the newly formed legislature cannot be considered a successful outcome for the authorities.
“Of course, Pashinyan wanted Prosperous Armenia to stay out of parliament. But even if the party fails to enter parliament, the legislature that is now being formed is not beneficial either for Nikol Pashinyan or for those who support him,” Vardanyan stated.
Both Sides Question the Legitimacy of the Elections
According to the analyst, an unusual situation has emerged in which both the government and the opposition question the legitimacy of the election results, albeit for different reasons.
He noted that the authorities accuse opposition forces of securing votes through vote-buying, while the opposition claims the government achieved its results by using administrative resources and state funds.
“A situation has arisen where both major sides effectively declare that the elections were not legitimate. This is both a highly interesting and a dangerous development,” he said.
New Elections Could Take Place This Year
Vardanyan did not rule out the possibility of new snap elections being held before the end of the year.
In his view, if the opposition fails to achieve a change of power through political pressure, the authorities themselves may opt for another electoral process.
He also referred to recent reports suggesting that restrictions on the participation of certain political parties in future elections are being discussed.
According to Vardanyan, such discussions may be connected to upcoming political developments.
Authorities May Seek a More Favorable Political Landscape
Vardanyan argues that if snap elections are called, the government may attempt to reshape the political environment in its favor.
According to him, this could involve creating conditions under which key opposition actors are excluded from the electoral process.
He believes that the current political developments are directly linked to broader questions regarding Armenia’s future and statehood.
For that reason, Vardanyan argues that society should be prepared for a serious political struggle in the months ahead.