Civil Contract wins as Prosperous Armenia's threshold result could alter seat distribution

Armenia’s Central Election Commission has announced the preliminary results of Sunday’s parliamentary election after counting votes at all 2,005 polling stations across the country, with the figures still subject to change as parties may appeal for recounts at some stations until 11 a.m. Tuesday.

The ruling Civil Contract party has secured victory with 49.81% of the vote. The result allows Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s force to retain control of parliament, elect the prime minister, and form a government without the need for a coalition. It has not, however, obtained the two-thirds majority required to pass constitutional amendments.

The Strong Armenia alliance, led by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, received 23.29% of the vote and will enter parliament for the first time. It is followed by former President Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia alliance, which garnered 9.94%. The bloc had been the main opposition force in the parliament formed after the 2021 election.

The Prosperous Armenia party, led by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, narrowly missed the threshold to enter parliament, receiving 3.99%, slightly below the required 4%. This may change, however, after the final result is announced.

Among other contenders, the Wings of Unity party, led by former ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, received 2.3% despite clear ambitions to enter parliament. The pro-European Meritocratic party, led by Gurgen Simonyan, gained 2.11%. Other political forces, including the Against All movement and former Yerevan mayor Hayk Marutyan’s New Power party, finished below 2%.

Voter turnout stood at 58.94%, significantly higher than in the 2021 and 2018 elections, both of which were also won by Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party but saw turnout remain just below 50%.

No major violations were reported at polling stations, although sporadic incidents involving double voting and breaches of voting secrecy were recorded.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a press briefing overnight, declaring his party’s victory. Several foreign leaders, including Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, were among those who congratulated him on the outcome.