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Embattled Armenian leader Pashinyan declares his party’s victory in snap elections after early results show heavy lead Party of embattled Armenian leader Pashinyan scores landslide victory in snap parliamentary elections
(about 4 hours later)
Acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has declared victory in the country's snap parliamentary elections after his Civil Contract party received about 55 percent of the vote with nearly 70 percent of the ballots tallied. Acting Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan has declared victory in the country's snap parliamentary elections. His Civil Contract party received nearly 54% of the vote after all ballots were counted.
The snap elections took place on Sunday amid a political turmoil that has gripped Armenia after last year’s Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, that saw it handing over areas of the disputed region to Azerbaijan as part of a peace agreement with Baku, brokered by Moscow. The snap elections took place on Sunday amid political turmoil that has gripped Armenia since last year’s Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which saw areas of the disputed region handed over to Azerbaijan as part of a peace agreement with Baku, brokered by Moscow.
The deal sparked mass protests, with opposition blaming the Pashinyan government for what many saw as a surrender.  The deal sparked mass protests, with the opposition blaming the Pashinyan government for what many saw as a surrender. 
The preliminary results of the election, however, indicated an overwhelming support for the ruling Civil Contract party, which gained around 55.66 percent of the vote. Its main rival, newly-founded Armenia Alliance, led by the ex-President Robert Kocharyan was lagging behind with 20 percent, the country’s central election commision reported after counting 67,53 percent of the ballots. The outcome of the election, however, suggested substantial support for the ruling Civil Contract party, which received 53.92% of the vote. The result, however, won’t allow Pashinyan’s party to single-handedly form the government, as it fell short of its goal by a mere 0.08%. A party or a block must get at least 54% of the vote to have the right to form a government, according to Armenia’s electoral laws.
The threshold is set at 5 percent for parties, and at 7 percent for blocks. A total of 21 parties and four blocks are vying for the seats in the country’s legislature. The Civil Contract party's main rival, the newly founded Armenia Alliance, led by ex-president Robert Kocharyan, lagged behind with 21.04%, the country’s Central Election Commision reported on Monday after having counted 100% of the ballots.
Shortly after preliminary results were published, Pashinyan claimed victory in the poll. In a video address broadcast on Facebook, the acting PM said that his party was given a “steel mandate” to carry out a “steel revolution,” contrasting it with the Velvet Revolution of 2018, which propelled him into the PM office. His ascent to power was preceded by mass protests against then President Serj Sargsyan. The threshold in Armenian elections is set at 5% for parties, and at 7% for blocs. A total of 21 parties and four blocs are vying for seats in the country’s legislature.
While all the other political parties and blocs came up short of their respective goals, the county’s law dictates that a third force must be present in parliament. The lucky loser is set to become the 'Pativ Unem' (I Have the Honor) bloc, run by former Armenian president Serj Sargsyan and former head of the National Security Service, Arthur Vetsanian. The opposition bloc received 5.23% of the vote.
After preliminary results put the Civil Contract party far ahead of the field, Pashinyan claimed victory in the poll. In a video address broadcast on Facebook, the acting PM said that his party was given a “steel mandate” to carry out a “steel revolution,” contrasting it with the Velvet Revolution of 2018, which propelled him into the PM's office. His ascent to power was preceded by mass protests against then-president Sargsyan.
"Victory in the parliamentary election will restore social and national consolidation. The people of Armenia have carried out a second revolution in three years,” Pashinyan said. "Victory in the parliamentary election will restore social and national consolidation. The people of Armenia have carried out a second revolution in three years,” Pashinyan said. 
Pashinyan expressed his gratitude to a number of countries and organizations that he said stood behind Armenia, including Russia, France, the US, the EU, Iran and Georgia. The politician also pledged to deepen ties with the members of regional blocks, such as Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Both count Russia among its member-states. Pashinyan expressed his gratitude to a number of countries and organizations that he said stood behind Armenia, including Russia, France, the US, the EU, Iran and Georgia. The politician also pledged to deepen ties with the members of regional blocs, such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Both count Russia among their member states.
While Pashinyan called on his supporters to gather for a celebratory rally, Kocharyan’s block cast doubt on the credibility of the pleriminary results, citing alleged voting violations and accusing the ruling party of a plot to falsify the elections.  While Pashinyan called on his supporters to gather for a celebratory rally, Kocharyan’s bloc cast doubt on the credibility of the preliminary results, citing alleged voting violations and accusing the ruling party of a plot to falsify the elections. 
The results are “in stark contrast to the various manifestations of public life we ​​have witnessed over the past eight months, to all public opinion polls, including international, and finally, to common sense,” the block said in a statement, cited by the media. Initial results, however, indicate that Kocharyan’s block gained ground on the centrist Civil Contract party in capital Yerevan, where it was leading with over 68 percent. The results are “in stark contrast to the various manifestations of public life we ​​have witnessed over the past eight months, to all public opinion polls, including international, and finally, to common sense,” the bloc said in a statement, cited by the media. Initial results, however, indicate that Kocharyan’s bloc gained ground on the centrist Civil Contract party in capital Yerevan, where it was leading with over 68%.
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