Pashinyan Announces Snap City Council Elections in Gyumri, Citing Need for Change
Gyumri, Shirak Province, Armenia, May 26 – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced yesterday evening that Gyumri will hold snap city council elections after June 7. Speaking in Gyumri, Pashinyan reiterated his long-standing dissatisfaction with the city’s previous electoral choices, emphasizing the need for a “non-violent velvet revolution” to reach the local government.
Pashinyan stated that the city’s authorities, following 2018, pursued a political agenda aimed at fostering disillusionment among the populace towards the government. He asserted that their objective was to convince Yerevan that everything in Gyumri was proceeding as it should, despite what he perceived as a different reality on the ground.
“A Great Debt to Gyumri”
“I now understand that we have a great debt to return to Gyumri. And today I declare that from this moment on, I bear personal responsibility for all processes taking place in Gyumri, for Gyumri’s well-being, for Gyumri’s reconstruction,” Pashinyan declared, signaling a direct intervention in the city’s political landscape.
The Prime Minister also touched upon what he referred to as the “Gyumri 2” scenario, a phrase previously used to describe potential political upheavals. He countered this narrative by stating, “Many were talking about ‘Gyumri Two’ as a result of these elections. I said months ago that there will be no ‘Gyumri Two,’ there will be ‘Revolution Two’ and ‘Gyumri One.’ After the June 7 elections, the people’s non-violent velvet revolution must finally reach the building behind us, and we, with the people of Gyumri, must hold snap elections for the Gyumri City Council and establish popular rule in Gyumri, so that Gyumri flourishes like, for example, Artik flourishes, other cities of the republic flourish, and Armenia in general flourishes.”
Context of the Announcement
Pashinyan’s declaration comes amidst a series of political developments and public discussions across Armenia. The Prime Minister’s remarks underscore his administration’s commitment to extending its reform agenda to local governance, particularly in regions where he perceives a disconnect between local leadership and national objectives.
The upcoming snap elections are expected to reshape the political landscape of Gyumri, a city that has often been a focal point in Armenian political discourse. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on “popular rule” and “flourishing” hints at a broader vision for the city’s future, aligning it with the national development trajectory.
The announcement also follows various reports and discussions concerning railway accessibility to EU countries, the release of a life-term prisoner, and other social and political issues that have been prominent in Armenian media. These broader contexts highlight the dynamic political environment in which Pashinyan’s decision for Gyumri’s snap elections is set.
The move is likely to generate significant debate and political activity in Gyumri and across Armenia as stakeholders prepare for the upcoming electoral process. The outcome of these elections will be closely watched as an indicator of public sentiment and the future direction of local governance in the Shirak Province.
