Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan Wins Third Term, Signals Shift Toward Europe

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan secured a third consecutive parliamentary mandate in Armenia’s June 7 election, winning 49.8% of the vote. While his Civil Contract party did not achieve the two‑thirds majority needed to amend the constitution, the result is seen as a public endorsement of his policy of distancing the country from Russian security dependence and pursuing closer ties with the European Union.

Pashinyan emphasised that “the Armenian people voted for peace, for regional prosperity and for regional cooperation,” and added that “the Armenian government hopes this will be received positively by Turkey and Azerbaijan.” The election is framed as a geopolitical referendum after Armenia’s 2023 loss of Nagorno‑Karabakh, with the opposition favouring a return to Russia’s sphere of influence. The new mandate therefore strengthens Yerevan’s intent to normalise relations with its neighbours and to seek Western economic and security support while managing a still‑tense relationship with Moscow.