Pashinyan Convinced, but Now Surrounded by Opposition from Tsarukyan, Vanelzyan, and Kocharian

Pashinyan has been in discussions regarding the adoption of a new electoral system, engaging not only with his team but also with various Soros-affiliated NGOs. They have articulated to him that while the majoritarian electoral system benefits all governments, in the current context where Pashinyan and his team have lost credibility, it is in his interest to adopt a proportional system.

In this model, voter turnout is expected to decrease significantly. In the case of a majoritarian system, around 1500 candidates actively work to mobilize voters for their own and their party's success. However, in a proportional system, such activity is unlikely to occur, leading to a potential drop in participation by half. The fewer voters there are, the higher the chance of the ruling party obtaining 50+1 of the votes.

Pashinyan seems to have succeeded in persuading some factions, especially after discovering through recent regional visits that the ruling party and the prime minister have very low ratings. Furthermore, it has been challenging to attract new supporters through various promises.

However, the prospect of changing the rules of the game has caused dissatisfaction among opposition leaders. Sources inform us that both Gagik Tsarukyan and Robert Kocharian, along with Arthur Vanetsyan, are opposed to this shift, while only the Armenian Revolutionary Federation supports the proportional system. The Homeland Salvation Movement is likely to escalate its public rallies in the near future, and the opposition in the National Assembly is also expected to contest the ruling party's electoral law.