Strong Armenia party pledges anti-poverty fund ahead of June elections

Armenia’s opposition Strong Armenia party, contesting the June parliamentary elections, has unveiled a flagship anti-poverty initiative that it says will transform the country’s social landscape.

Businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, the party’s prime ministerial candidate, called the plan “revolutionary,” vowing to eradicate extreme poverty through relentless work and direct financial support to households. He accused the current government of neglecting systemic hardship, focusing instead on “concerts in public squares” rather than substantive economic reform.

Karapetyan pledged that his administration would prioritize citizens over political elites. “We must eliminate extreme poverty in our country as quickly as possible,” he said, promising a 24-hour work ethic to achieve rapid results.

Party council member Narek Karapetyan detailed the proposal, announcing the creation of a Poverty Alleviation Fund financed partly by the state but primarily by private foundations and business partners. Under the scheme, families currently receiving minimal aid — often 20,000 to 30,000 drams per month — would see their support rise significantly. A five-member household would be eligible for 150,000 drams monthly, a sum the party argues would lift them above the poverty line.

The party also signaled that another major policy announcement will be made within a week, describing it as a program that only their government could realistically implement.