Nikol Pashinyan to lead Civil Contract party list and run for office  with slogan `Take Care of Peace`

ArmInfo.  The ruling party list, Civil Contract (SD), will be headed by current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Pashinyan's  candidacy was approved by vote at the party's 8th Congress held  today. Party members unanimously supported their leader. The party  also announced its intention to conduct its election campaign under  the slogan "Take Care of Peace."

Speaking at the congress after being nominated as the Civil Contract  party's candidate for prime minister, Pashinyan reiterated previously  voiced theses regarding ending the Karabakh movement and rejecting  the role of victim in Armenia's modern history, and reiterated the  concept of "Real Armenia." He emphasized the importance of achieving  peace with Azerbaijan and pursuing a balanced foreign policy.  Furthermore, Pashinyan reaffirmed his intention to seek the removal  of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

The Prime Minister also shared some details of his meeting with Pope  Francis in November 2024. He said that when the pontiff noted that he  knew the Armenians as a martyred people, Pashinyan agreed, adding  that his government's mission is to see the country bid farewell to  that status. In response to the Pope's subsequent remarks about the  Armenian people's historical identity, an argument ensued between  them, during which the Prime Minister emphasized the need to change  their historical destiny.

"After a pause, the Pope asked, 'What will you do?' I replied, 'We  will live and build a state.' Our historical mission is to lead the  Armenian people to an ordinary, prosperous, happy, sovereign, free,  and state- oriented life," Pashinyan said, quoting the Armenian poet  Yeghishe Charents's thought about "a country where ordinary people  live ordinary lives."

As a reminder, on March 30, following two rounds of internal voting  within the Civil Contract party, Nikol Pashinyan garnered 933 votes,  becoming the candidate for prime minister.