Electoral Code amendments ahead of June elections disadvantage country`s leading opposition party -  IODA

ArmInfo. Recent amendments to Armenia's Electoral Code adopted ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections that prohibit the use of personal names appear designed to  disadvantage the "Strong Armenia" political opposition party and  further undermine a fair and competitive electoral process, said the  International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia (IODA).  IODA  urged the government to cancel or delay any apparently politicized  amendments at least until after the election of a new government.

"These hasty electoral amendments smack of a naked ploy to  disadvantage Armenia's leading opposition political party, 'Strong  Armenia,' by effectively requiring them to change the party's  well-known name just months before the elections," said Sarah Leah  Whitson. "The government and the ruling party have once again reached  into their bag of tricks to tilt the election in its favor."

On 7 April 2026, the National Assembly adopted the amendments  proposed by three members of the Civil Contract faction: Arusyak  Julhakyan, Alkhas Ghazaryan, and Artur Hovhannisyan, restricting the  naming of electoral blocs. The passed changes prohibit the use of  personal names, as well as names or formulations resembling state and  local self-government bodies, in bloc titles. The bill was adopted  with 66 votes in favor, 16 against, and no abstentions, with support  coming exclusively from members of the ruling Civil Contract faction.  While authors presented the amendment as a technical adjustment, the  timing and context of the amendment will affect specific political  parties, including the "Strong Armenia with Samvel Karapetyan" bloc.  In the pre-electoral period, any changes that may be seen as altering  the conditions of political competition warrant particular scrutiny.

The government passed other problematic amendments to the Electoral  Code on 24 January 2026 authorizing the Central Electoral Commission  (CEC) sole discretion to deny or revoke accreditation for an election  observation mission based on a determination that the mission is not  "politically neutral." Although ensuring impartiality in election  observation is a legitimate objective, the absence of clearly defined  criteria for assessing such neutrality introduces a degree of  discretion that may give rise to inconsistent application.

It is also notable that the Assembly adopted these legislative  changes through expedited procedures, without broad-based  consultation with opposition parties, civil society organizations, or  international partners. "The cumulative effect of the government's  changes to the Electoral Code is to undermine public trust in the  fairness of the political process, particularly in the context of  other controversial measures, including arrests of political actors  and clergy, ahead of the elections," said Kenneth Roth. "The most  important thing the ruling party can and should do right now is take  its fist off the political scales and ensure the public that  Armenia's democracy is safe from manipulation."

The amendments to the Electoral Code also contravene the Venice  Commission's Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters, which  underscores the importance of maintaining the stability of electoral  legislation, and avoiding amendments for at least a year preceding  elections. Changes to key aspects of the electoral framework at a  late stage may affect both the perception and the reality of  electoral integrity. IODA urged the government to suspend enforcement  of any amendments to the Electoral Code until after the election and  to ensure adequate time for review, discussion and consultation with  civil society.

The IODA previously issued its concerns about the government's  conduct ahead of the elections, highlighting politicized arrests and  prosecutions of political opponents and clergy members; unfounded  allegations of foreign interference; and reliance on vague and  overbroad provisions of the penal code, in a press conference in  Yerevan on March 12, 2026. The organization plans to carry out a  second on-the-ground investigation in Armenia in May and will issue  its final conclusions and recommendations ahead of the elections.