Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for June 7, have drawn significant attention both domestically and across the South Caucasus. A total of 19 political forces - 17 parties and 2 alliances - are set to compete, reflecting a fragmented political landscape shaped by recent conflicts, internal debates, and shifting geopolitical realities.

At the centre of Armenia’s political scene remains Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Civil Contract Party, which has dominated politics since the 2018 Velvet Revolution. His vision goes beyond routine reforms and includes the idea of establishing a so-called Fourth Republic. This concept implies not just constitutional or legal adjustments, but a deeper reconfiguration of Armenia’s political identity, governance model and ideological foundations. In essence, Pashinyan is seeking to move the country away from entrenched post-Soviet structures toward a more modernised and adaptive state framework.

Pashinyan’s platform is generally associated with pragmatic governance, economic stabilisation, and a cautious approach toward regional normalisation, particularly with Azerbaijan and Türkiye. His government has signalled a willingness to engage in peace negotiations and to accept new regional realities following the second Karabakh war. That stance marks perhaps the clearest dividing line in Armenian politics today.

While the incumbent government appears to accept that a durable settlement with Azerbaijan is necessary for economic recovery and strategic breathing space, much of the opposition rejects this course outright. Former president Robert Kocharyan has described Pashinyan’s diplomacy as cowardice and a form of capitulation.........

© AzerNews