Armenia delays approval of 2026 budget, health insurance package

Armenia’s government postponed consideration of the 2026 state budget and a health insurance package after key documents were not ready for approval at Thursday’s cabinet meeting.

Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan told Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the start of the meeting that the draft decision on the 2026 budget required additional time to be finalized, requesting a delay until January 23.

Hovhannisyan also asked for one more day to revise a separate item concerning quarterly allocations of the state budget, saying further adjustments were needed.

He said it was customary at the government’s final meeting of the year to make last edits to ensure the proper execution of the current year’s budget and to resolve outstanding issues.

Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan likewise requested time to make editorial changes to the health insurance package before it is finalized. Pashinyan approved the requests.