What's next for Gyumri?

Gohar Meloyan, head of the International Center on Development of Parliamentarism, has outlined the post-election situation in Gyumri following Sunday's snap elections.

According to preliminary results, the new Gyumri City Council consists of 33 seats, with the following distribution:

• Civil Contract party – 14 seats

• Armenian Communist Party – 8 seats

• Our City bloc – 6 seats

• My Strong Community party – 3 seats

• Mother Armenia bloc – 2 seats

To be elected mayor, a candidate must secure at least 17 votes. If no candidate achieves this majority, a runoff election is held between the top two candidates and the one with the most votes wins,

"However, a municipal council session requires at least 17 members present to be valid. Without opposition participation, no session can be held. If no mayor is elected within two weeks, a new election will be called. Thus, concerns that Civil Contract could unilaterally elect a mayor in a second round seem unlikely under the current circumstances," Meloyan said.

The International Center on Development of Parliamentarism was formed in 2019, declaring the primary goals of its activities: 

1. establishment of democracy, 
2. the consolidation of the rule of law, 
3. the development of parliamentarism, 
4. raising people's awareness and legal consciousness, 
5. and ensuring the implementation of personal, political, and socio-economic rights in the Republic of Armenia.

During 6 years of its operation, the organization has carried out awareness-raising activities and organized training courses in the regions of the Republic of Armenia.

ICDP also carries out observation missions in electoral processes, in the context of which it organizes training courses for observers.