PAP: CEC`s decision to annul voting results at two polling stations  calls into question legitimacy of parliamentary elections

ArmInfo.The Central Electoral Commission's (CEC) decision to annul the voting results at polling stations where the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) received the most votes is nothing less than direct interference in the electoral  process, calling into question the legitimacy of the upcoming  parliamentary elections. PAP spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan stated this  at a press conference in Yerevan on June 12.

According to the PAP spokesperson, this is yet another attempt by  every possible means to prevent the party from entering parliament  without securing the 4% threshold. "That is, this is direct influence  on the electoral process, calling into question its legitimacy,"  Tonoyan stated. She noted that the Central Election Commission (CEC)  made this decision after initiating a recount at several polling  stations, after which the party regained the necessary number of  votes to enter parliament. "After this, late on June 11, CEC Chairman  Vahagn Hovakimyan and members of the Commission decided to implement  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's demand. Specifically, to do  everything possible to prevent the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)  from entering the National Assembly of Armenia. This is a direct  attack on democracy, legitimacy, and accepted norms. This is  political persecution against a specific opposition force," Tonoyan  stated.

The PAP spokesperson reported that, in light of the situation,  numerous representatives of the opposition, legal, and civil society  have expressed their support for the party. "Although these processes  currently affect our party specifically, they also call into question  the legitimacy of the elections themselves and every vote," the PAP  spokesperson stated. According to her, they currently intend to hold  political consultations with opposition forces and present a unified  position, assessing the current situation. Tonoyan also called for  people to join their protest outside the Central Election Commission  building.

As a reminder, regular parliamentary elections were held in Armenia  on June 7, 2026. Voter turnout was 58.97%. According to preliminary  data from the Central Election Commission, Nikol Pashinyan's ruling  Civil Contract party, Samvel Karapetyan's Strong Armenia bloc, and  second president Robert Kocharyan's Armenia bloc are all in  parliament. The remaining candidates scored below the required  threshold of 4% for parties and 8-10% for blocs. Notably, businessman  Gagik Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia party lost the 4% threshold  after the Central Election Commission adjusted the preliminary vote  counts for the June 7 parliamentary elections. In response, the party  initiated a recount at several polling stations, which revealed that  the party's votes had been stolen. Following this, the Central  Electoral Commission of Armenia, at its extraordinary meeting on June  11, annulled the results at polling stations No. 10/51 and No. 35/65.  These are the very stations where the party received the most votes.  Therefore, the party may not be included in the new parliament.

On election day, from early morning, observers and journalists  reported numerous violations by the ruling party during the voting  process. Thus, Pashinyan's party has the opportunity to  single-handedly form the country's government by securing a majority  of seats in the Armenian parliament. This was solemnly announced by  Pashinyan himself late at night, when data from only about 10% of the  polling stations had been processed.