DM Monitoring
BAKU: Armenians went to the polls Sunday in early parliamentary elections called by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in an attempt to renew his mandate and heal divisions after a disastrous war with Azerbaijan.
But the reformist leader, who spearheaded peaceful protests in 2018, has lost much of his appeal after a humiliating defeat last year to Azerbaijan over a decadesold territorial dispute. He is locked in a tight race with former president Robert Kocharian.
“The destiny of our Armenian nation will be decided today,” said one voter, 73-year-old Emma Sahakyan. Analysts say the election result is hard to predict, with both Pashinian and Kocharian drawing massive crowds on the eve of the polls and planning four days of rallies after the vote.
The election in the South Caucasus country of three million people is being watched by Armenia’s Soviet-era master Moscow as well as Baku and Ankara, all of which supported Azerbaijan in the six-week war over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Kocharian, who hails from Karabakh and was in power between 1998 and 2008, appeared in good spirits as he showed up at a Yerevan polling station. “I voted for worthy peace and economic growth,” he said.
By contrast, Pashinian did not address reporters at a polling station but wrote on Facebook: “I am voting for the future of our state and people, for the development of Armenia.”
During a campaign marred by polarising rhetoric, he said he expected his Civil Contract party to secure 60% of the vote, though some pollsters say those estimates are far-fetched.
One voter, Anahit Sargsyan, said the prime minister deserved another chance, adding she feared the return of the old guard whom she accused of plundering the country. “I voted against a return to the old ways,” said the 63-year-old former teacher.
Another voter, Vardan Hovhannisyan, said he cast his ballot for Kocharian, who counts Russian leader Vladimir Putin among his friends. “I voted for secure borders, solidarity in society, the return of our war prisoners, the well-being of the wounded and a strong army,” said the 41-year-old musician. Three hours after polls opened, voter turnout stood at over 12%, election officials said.
Earlier in February Armenia saw a spike in demonstrations demanding the resignation of Pashinian. Throngs of opposition demonstrators swarmed the streets of the Armenian capital, chanting “Nikol, you traitor!” and “Nikol, resign!” Opposition supporters blocked the streets around Yerevan, paralyzing traffic around the capital.
