Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan Wins Parliamentary Majority, EU Praises European Shift

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party secured roughly 49.8% of the vote in Armenia’s parliamentary election, giving the ruling bloc a clear majority and allowing Pashinyan to continue his second term. The result is viewed as a referendum on his handling of the 2023 Nagorno‑Karabakh loss and on his policy of moving Armenia closer to the European Union while reducing reliance on Russia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell congratulated Pashinyan, describing the vote as a “small European success”. The EU pledged €50 million in aid to offset recent Russian trade restrictions on Armenian products and reiterated support for Armenia’s reform agenda and potential future EU candidate status. Officials said the EU hopes the new mandate will help normalize relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, a shift that would weaken Russian influence in the South Caucasus.