Diplomacy

On June 7, Armenians will head to the polls for the first time in almost a decade to vote in a regular, not snap, Parliamentary election. The stakes could not be higher. If victorious, the incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will become the longest-serving head of government in Armenia’s independent history, provided he serves the full 5-year term. Standing in his way is a fragmented but determined opposition, led since half a year ago by Samvel Karapetyan and his Strong Armenia party. While reliable polls indicate that the opposition remains at a significant distance from outright victory, their best bet lies in the post-election coalition of several opposition parties. This is often referred to as the "Gyumri-2" scenario— mimicking the successful manoeuvre pulled off in the second-largest city last year, where the coming together of the opposition forces overtook Civil Contract, which failed to secure a majority. This outcome, however, is far from guaranteed on June 7. (To read the full commentary, click on the image above.)