Victory for Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in parliamentary elections marks a firm slap down for Russian efforts to derail his signature pro-Western policy moves, although failure to win a two-thirds majority in parliament will complicate the ongoing US-brokered peace process with Azerbaijan.Official preliminary results gave Pashinian's Civil Contract party 64 seats in the 150-seat legislature, enough to remain in office for a fresh term of office. Two Russian-leaning opposition parties took the remaining seats, while a third appeared to have fallen narrowly short of the 5 percent barrier for entry into parliament pending a recount.
"With the re-election of the Armenian government, this election provides a fresh mandate on sustaining the positive momentum of diplomatic engagement, normalization of relations with neighbors, and the continued diversification of Armenia’s security partners," Richard Giragosian, head of the Regional Studies Center think tank in Yerevan, told RFE/RL on June 8.Pro-Western Course ConfirmedPashinian can now be expected to seek to push ahead with moves to strengthen ties with the European Union and the United States.Last year, the country passed a law initiating the process of EU accession, and EU leaders have welcomed the outcome of the election.French President Emmannuel Macron, who performed a song with Pashinian onstage during a state visit to Yerevan last month, congratulated him in a statement pledging "to further strengthen cooperation serving the interests of our peoples, to support Armenia's peace and sovereignty, as well as to back the process of rapprochement with Europe."
