Yerevan, September 22, 2025
Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party has announced a new 20-member board, following an internal congress that re-elected Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as party chairman. The leadership slate is dominated by senior officials and lawmakers, underscoring Pashinyan’s continued grip on the party despite mounting political challenges.
According to Armenian media reports cited by Report, the board includes Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, Deputy Prime Minister Ruben Rubinyan, Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan, and Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan.
The vote, however, was marred by procedural controversy. The electronic count showed more ballots than there were delegates, triggering concerns of irregularities. Pashinyan himself reportedly demanded an explanation. Party officials later said a manual recount was underway to verify the results of elections for the board, its chair, and the party’s audit commission.
The internal vote comes at a delicate moment for Pashinyan. While his party retains a parliamentary majority, his government is under pressure over its deteriorating relationship with the Armenian Apostolic Church and opposition accusations that he has weakened the country’s sovereignty amid closer ties with the West. The ruling party’s consolidation of loyal officials into its leadership structure signals an effort to shore up unity at a time of growing political polarization.
Analysts note that Civil Contract’s internal cohesion will be critical as Armenia navigates a shifting regional landscape, including fragile relations with Russia, heightened Western involvement, and unresolved tensions with Azerbaijan.
