Armenian Way party formed in Armenia

ArmInfo.  A right-wing party, "Armenian Way," has been established in Armenia. The new party, which will build its activities on the ideological foundations of the  "Armenia 2026" movement, led by former National Oncology Center  Director Narek Manukyan, intends to participate in the parliamentary  elections to be held in June 2026. The party's founding congress was  held in Yerevan yesterday.

"I entered politics because it is no longer acceptable to live in a  country whose future is determined by the will of adversary  countries, guided by external interests and the views of people  pursuing purely personal interests," said Narek Manukyan, speaking at  the opening of the founding congress.

According to him, today we live in a world where, under the guise of  globalism, people are cut off from their identity and subordinated to  their own interests. Meanwhile, Armenians, in part due to their small  numbers, continue to exist precisely by preserving their national  identity, language, and faith, he added.

Manukyan pointed out that the Armenian Way party is a right-wing  party. "We are convinced that the free market, entrepreneurship,  initiative, and a competitive economy create the strength of the  state. At the same time, the state cannot abandon vulnerable groups  to their fate, which is the foundation of a right-wing ideology," the  president noted.

According to Manukyan, Armenia is currently vulnerable in terms of  its security system: there is a clear shortage of personnel and  weapons, and drug and gambling addiction are rampant in the army.  Therefore, he proposes, instead of levies, conducting local training  among the population, creating an off-budget fund replenished by  citizens and the Diaspora, using the proceeds to purchase and  manufacture weapons, and construct underground modular structures.  Furthermore, and crucially, it is necessary to develop a "winner's  mentality, since victory begins in the mind." At the same time,  Armenia needs real allies. Manukyan believes that Armenia currently  has almost none, and those that do exist are sacrificing us for their  own interests. The new party proposes friendship with those who have  conflicts with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

At the same time, Manukyan emphasizes the importance of national and  societal unity, as a fragmented society cannot defeat an external  enemy.

He cited demographic issues as another serious security challenge.  Last year, 33,000 children were born in Armenia, while the mortality  rate was 25,000. There were years when more than 80,000 children were  born. To stimulate the birth rate, he proposes reducing the income  tax for mothers of one to three children (by two percent for each  child), and eliminating it entirely for mothers with four children.   It should be noted that the "Armenia 2026" movement has been active  in the opposition since its inception, advocating under the slogan  "We." The movement's leader, Narek Manukyan, has been actively  engaged in political activities for several months, holding meetings  with socio-political initiatives and presenting his views on the  country's pressing issues.

Manukyan headed the National Oncology Center from August 2019 to  April 2025. Following the September 2023 elections to the Yerevan  Council of Elders, he became a non-partisan member of the council on  the Civil Contract faction list, but in April 2025 he announced that  he had resigned of his own free will.