Disagreement within 'My Step' on Holding Elections under the Old Code: Will Pashinyan Cancel the Extraordinary Election Decision?

“The ruling elite, led by Nikol Pashinyan, will soon attempt to assess its real rating through regional visits. These visits are less about campaigning and more about verifying their own standing in a unique social survey format. According to certain information, Pashinyan is concerned that he may not be able to re-elect even with the use of administrative resources in the extraordinary elections. He aims to determine whether to proceed with the elections or to cancel the extraordinary vote set for June 20 under some pretext.

The cancellation could also be supported by demands from certain deputies of 'My Step' and Soros-affiliated NGOs regarding the issue of a new electoral code. We learned that on Sunday, he once again invited 'My Step' deputies to the government residence to discuss the fate of the new electoral code.

Members of the ruling faction reminded Pashinyan that both in their electoral program and in the six-month roadmap presented after the war, changes to the electoral code are outlined; hence, they cannot go into elections under the old code. Pashinyan countered that the agreement on extraordinary elections was reached with the opposition based on the old code and that it must be coordinated with them.

According to reports, neither the leaders of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) nor the Bright Armenia Party (LHK) are supportive of the new electoral code, believing that it has been tailored to suit the current ruling power under Nikol Pashinyan. Furthermore, the elections must take place as soon as possible; adopting a new code would delay the elections.

Therefore, Pashinyan has kept both options open: proceeding with elections under the old code or cancellation under the pretext of adopting the new electoral code.

This was reported by the newspaper “Haykakan Zhamanak.”