Opposition MP accuses Armenian government of failures, deepening public discontent

Armenian opposition lawmaker Artsvik Minasyan on Friday delivered a scathing critique of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the ruling Civil Contract party, accusing the government of systemic failures, unfulfilled promises and fostering deep societal division.

Speaking at a parliament session, Minasyan, who serves as secretary of the opposition Hayastan faction, rejected characterizations of a consolidated or “three-headed” political force, arguing instead that the government’s policies have effectively turned a majority of the population into its opponents.

“The term ‘three-headed’ is misleading — ‘multi-headed’ would be more accurate,” he said, contending that public dissatisfaction has expanded significantly under the current administration.

Minasyan accused the ruling party of attempting to reframe political realities while bearing responsibility for major national crises. “You are the ones who brought war, disaster, and losses — and will continue to do so if you remain in power,” he said.

The MP further criticized inconsistencies between the government’s official programs and their implementation, stating that policy documents appear similar in form but diverge significantly in substance.

According to the opposition lawmaker, the current administration has contributed to a “deep atmosphere of disillusionment and excessive hostility” within Armenian society. He also accused the government of undermining local governance, specifically referencing the municipality of Gyumri, which he said was being portrayed as ineffective while its achievements were attributed to central authorities.

“Respect the people of Gyumri,” Minasyan said, adding that public funds are being presented as government largesse. “These are the people’s resources and must be spent in their interest — the issue is the glaring inefficiency with which they are managed.”

Minasyan also dismissed the government’s claims of successful programs as lacking substantive outcomes, citing the case of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). He argued that despite assertions of unprecedented financial assistance, the result had been the displacement of the Armenian population and Artsakh's depopulation.

“The state authority has been discredited and this process is ongoing,” he said, warning that the credibility of the National Assembly itself is also at risk.

Anticipating pushback from ruling party MPs, Minasyan suggested such responses would aim to discredit him rather than address substantive issues, accusing them of attempting to manipulate public opinion ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

In his concluding remarks, he compared the current leadership unfavorably with several prominent oppositionists, including businessmen Samvel Karapetyan and Gagik Tsarukyan, as well as former President Robert Kocharyan.

“You are weaker than all of them,” Minasyan said, extending the comparison to other opposition figures.