Macron's Dangerous Cynicism in Yerevan: Suren Surenyan

Political scientist Suren Surenyan writes: "French President Emmanuel Macron has made yet another cynical statement in Yerevan, this time regarding our country's internal affairs: 'I have taken on the obligation to support Pashinyan,' he announced, also referring to Moldovan President Maia Sandu in the same context.

When a leader of a major power publicly declares support for the incumbent prime minister just a month before elections, it is a blatant manifestation of interference in that country's internal affairs. However, what is even more significant is Macron's attempt to present this support as a 'defense of democracy.' The French president has tried to differentiate between 'acceptable' and 'unacceptable' forms of external influence: support from the West is 'participation in democracy,' while Russian attempts to exert influence are 'falsification of democracy.'

This is where political cynicism begins. Open support from an external actor in the internal affairs of a sovereign state does not cease to be interference simply because it is packaged as 'protection of values' or 'support for democracy.' In other words, the issue is not the fact of external influence, but rather who is exercising that influence and for whose benefit.

International relations have never been built on values. Great powers act primarily based on their own interests, regardless of how their actions are framed morally or ideologically. France is not carrying out an abstract 'democratic mission' in Armenia. Paris has clear geopolitical interests here: the expansion of influence in the South Caucasus, weakening Russia's position, and deepening European political presence.

In this context, Pashinyan's government is viewed as a partner and bearer of that political line. Therefore, Macron's support is directed towards a specific political authority. When Russia's potential influence is presented as a threat, while France's open support is framed as 'participation in democracy,' a system of double standards is formed that undermines the credibility of democratic institutions.

Armenia's elections are gradually becoming a battleground of geopolitical competition, where different power centers are already openly supporting their favored actors. Where does 'support' end and 'interference' begin? This is by no means a rhetorical question. In essence, Macron did not answer this question. He simply attempted to justify that Western influence has a 'different nature.'

However, this thesis of 'exceptionalism' in international relations has consistently led to double standards, political cynicism, and the devaluation of the sovereignty of smaller states. Pashinyan's 'democracy' has turned into a tool for the struggle of external influences rather than an independent state system.

The elections will be a decision of the Armenian people, not Paris, Moscow, or Brussels. This is our electoral team's firm conviction."