Pashinyan: Recent elections have revealed new challenges

ArmInfo. The recent elections have revealed new challenges. The large-scale distribution of electoral bribes has exposed the state's vulnerability, that must be addressed. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed this opinion during a meeting with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan held today.

According to him, the country's leadership must continue and  intensify the reform process, focusing on anti-corruption efforts  alongside broader institutional and economic restructuring. "It is  clear to me that we need to review our reform program, identify areas  that have proven ineffective, as well as our unresolved strategic  issues, and try to take additional measures to address them," he  noted.

Pashinyan believes that democracy in Armenia is irreversible. "Of  course, the fact that there were attempts to seize power from the  people is concerning, but it's also important that these attempts,  nevertheless, failed to achieve the desired results. On the contrary,  they have opened up room for maneuver, and we can act more  purposefully and effectively to prevent similar phenomena in future  elections. Of course, further improving the electoral system and  ensuring transparency in the financing of parties, media,  organizations, etc. are also tasks."

The Prime Minister emphasized that the government remains committed  to its primary pre-election pledge:  ensuring an average annual  economic growth rate of 6%. He noted that economic activity has  trended upward since the elections, suggesting that the results have  generated a degree of market optimism.

 "Although certain issues related to the EAEU arose during the  elections, where there are challenges, new opportunities  emerge including the transformation of a balanced foreign policy into  a balanced economic policy, which we are witnessing now. This does  not mean there will be no difficulties. The question is to what  extent we can overcome them. I am confident that we will successfully  overcome them, including with your support," Pashinyan said in a  conversation with Khachaturyan.