Pashinyan secures third term as Armenia pivots toward Europe

The Civil Contract party’s win, which left the opposition Strong Armenia with only a quarter of the ballots, signals a decisive break from traditional regional alignments. European leaders were quick to welcome the result. EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen praised the resilience of the 2018 Velvet Revolution, while EU commissioner Marta Kos highlighted the significance of the choice, noting that Armenians stood firm against foreign coercion. To support this trajectory, Brussels deployed a Hybrid Rapid Response Team in April to blunt disinformation campaigns and committed €270 million in funding through 2027.

Despite the electoral success, the path forward is fraught with domestic friction. Pashinyan’s platform hinges on a peace treaty with Azerbaijan that requires the formal renunciation of claims to Nagorno-Karabakh. Passing the necessary constitutional amendments to finalize this transition demands a two-thirds parliamentary majority, a high bar in an increasingly polarized legislature. Narek Sukiasyan of the American University of Armenia notes that while the EU will serve as a primary partner in countering hybrid threats, the presence of pro-Russian factions in the new assembly provides Moscow with renewed avenues to exert influence. Even as Yerevan strengthens ties with Kyiv and Brussels, the government intends to retain its membership in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, citing the economic realities of a nation heavily reliant on imports.