According to the data from the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia, the ruling “Civil Contract” Party won according to the preliminary results of the elections held in Vagharshapat. This became known after the ballots were counted from all 47 polling stations.
The ruling party garnered 48.5% of the votes in Vagharshapat, securing a majority in the community council of elders and the ability to form the community independently.
Modern.az reports that eight political forces competed for seats in the Vagharshapat Community Council.
The Vagharshapat elections are important for the ruling team led by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for several reasons. Etchmiadzin is not just another community, but the spiritual capital of Armenia. A victory in these elections is significant for the government in the context of its confrontation with the Armenian Apostolic Church. The results of the vote will be an indicator of public sentiment. For Pashinyan, a victory here means the weakening of the main opposition groups participating in the election campaign.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accepted his party's victory in Vagharshapat as a "mandate" for the dethronement of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. He made this statement on social media.
Pashinyan congratulated the people on the democratic elections. The Prime Minister believes that by electing Arghishti Mekhakyan, the candidate of the !“Civil Contract”, as their leader, the community residents confirmed that the best way to immortalize the memory of those who died for the country is to create a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Armenia.
"You demonstrated your unwavering support for the “Civil Contract” strategy to strengthen our statehood, independence, sovereignty, and freedom. With your election, you gave a significant impetus to the process of liberating the Mother See of Etchmiadzin from Ktrich Nersisyan (the secular name of the Catholicos, unacceptable to the clergy)", the Prime Minister wrote.
According to him, the victory of the “Civil Contract” party in Etchmiadzin is preparation for the 2026 national parliamentary elections.
