The municipal election in Gyumri marked a turning point in Armenian politics, signaling the beginning of the end for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party. Despite securing the highest share of votes, Civil Contract failed to secure a governing majority, paving the way for a broad opposition coalition to take control of Armenia’s second-largest city.
This election underscored the growing disillusionment with Pashinyan’s rule. Civil Contract’s reliance on the pro-Western Eurovote bloc proved futile, as the latter failed to meet the electoral threshold. Meanwhile, opposition forces—ranging from Vartan Ghukasyan’s Armenian Community Party to Martun Grigoryan’s Our City bloc—rallied enough support to form a majority in the city council. Notably, Ruben Mkhitaryan’s and Karen Simonyan’s factions swiftly backed Ghukasyan as the next mayor, signaling a newfound opposition unity.
The significance of this defeat extends beyond Gyumri. Civil Contract also suffered an outright loss in another major community near Yerevan, where the opposition Aprelu Yerkir party secured a decisive victory. These setbacks reflect a broader erosion of Pashinyan’s dominance, indicating that his populist rhetoric is losing its grip on the Armenian electorate.
The ruling party’s claims that its performance “cannot be considered a defeat” ring hollow in light of the clear momentum favoring the opposition. The arrests of activists and allegations of electoral misconduct only further highlight the government’s increasing desperation. As Civil Contract’s grip weakens, these elections may well mark the first cracks in the edifice of Pashinyan’s political dominance, setting the stage for a broader realignment in Armenia’s political landscape.
