On January 16, Armenia's parliament officially voted to reappoint Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister, continuing his leadership of the government. The decision came after Pashinyan's Civil Contract party won the snap parliamentary elections in June 2021, which were held following a political crisis triggered by the country's defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.
The vote saw 71 lawmakers in favor and 6 against, out of 132 seats in the new parliament. Pashinyan's Civil Contract party holds a majority with 71 seats, and together with two smaller allied parties—the Civil Contract and the Prosperous Armenia Alliance—they form the ruling coalition.
The reappointment comes as Pashinyan faces numerous challenges, including the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and unresolved border issues with Azerbaijan following the 2020 war. In his post-reappointment speech, Pashinyan pledged to prioritize improving security, boosting economic development, and continuing peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, mediated by major powers.
Nikol Pashinyan, a former journalist turned political leader, first became Prime Minister in 2018 after the Velvet Revolution. During his initial term, he implemented judicial reforms and anti-corruption measures, but the Nagorno-Karabakh war significantly eroded public trust.
Despite opposition criticism and accusations over his handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, Pashinyan retained voter support in the early elections, with his party securing 53.9% of the votes, according to the Central Electoral Commission. This indicates a certain level of public confidence in his political direction for the new phase.
