The participation of 19 political parties in the parliamentary elections benefits the ruling Civil Contract party by dispersing voter support, according to political technologist Armen Badalyan. He argues that many of these parties effectively operate in favor of the authorities and have entered the race to fragment the vote.
He notes that the ruling party’s electorate is not homogeneous but relies on several stable groups. These include direct supporters of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as well as voters inclined to support the current government regardless of specific party affiliations. In addition, segments of pro-Western voters may also back the ruling force due to the absence of a consolidated alternative. However, he claims that the ruling party lacks sufficient popularity to secure reelection under fully fair conditions.
Vote fragmentation as a strategic factor
Badalyan suggests that the authorities understand the opposition’s potential strategy — forming three to four strong blocs capable of consolidating voter support. In his view, this scenario has been neutralized by increasing the number of participants in the election.
When voters are faced with nearly twenty options instead of a few, their choices become more dispersed, making coordinated opposition voting difficult.
The role of smaller parties
He emphasizes that many participating parties have little chance of entering parliament. These groups typically secure between 0.5% and 2–3% of the vote, but collectively their impact can be significant.
“In aggregate, these small percentages can effectively shift the balance in favor of the leading party,” he explains.
Additional motivations for participation
Badalyan also suggests that some parties may participate for practical rather than purely political reasons. Elections can provide access to financial and organizational resources linked to campaign activities and monitoring structures.
Conclusion
Overall, the involvement of a large number of political actors reshapes the electoral landscape. It reduces the likelihood of opposition consolidation while increasing vote fragmentation. In such conditions, the advantage goes to the force that maintains a stable voter base and leads in overall support.