Hayastan alliance to take parliamentary seats

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Hayastan alliance has announced that it will take the parliamentary mandates it won, saying that “a mandate is a weapon” and voluntarily giving it up would be irresponsible.

In a statement, the alliance said that parliamentary status is not a position or a privilege, but an additional legal and political instrument that provides an opportunity for daily resistance. It said it therefore has a duty to use every available means in the coming political struggle against what it describes as the government’s anti-state agenda.

“We reaffirm our assessment that the Constitutional Court’s ruling neither corrects electoral fraud nor resolves the question of the legitimacy of the emerging government. The reproduced ruling regime lacks legitimacy.

It is important to make clear that we challenge the authorities’ representation in the National Assembly and their right to form a government, not the votes received by the opposition. The more than 550,000 votes cast for the opposition by citizens seeking to save the state impose a serious responsibility upon us.

It should also be emphasized that our challenge before the Constitutional Court regarding the legality of the votes attributed to the ruling authorities was intended to formally establish this reality,” the statement said.

The alliance noted that, as previously announced, its decision on accepting parliamentary mandates was guided by the need for a unified opposition position and the continuation of political struggle, following consultations with public and professional groups on all possible scenarios and risks.

“For us, parliamentary status is neither a position nor a matter of convenience. It is an additional legal and political instrument and an opportunity for daily resistance. We therefore believe we are obliged to use every available tool in the difficult struggle ahead against the government's anti-state programs.

A mandate is a weapon, and voluntarily surrendering it would be irresponsible toward both our state and our voters,” the statement said.

The alliance added that it views parliamentary representation as a means of protecting citizens' rights, raising public concerns, proposing solutions, strengthening ties with society and international partners, presenting alternative approaches internationally, and organizing broad public mobilization and political resistance.

It said all of its activities in parliament will be based on the joint agenda previously announced by opposition forces that appealed to the Constitutional Court, including:

1. Preventing constitutional amendments. Using all parliamentary mechanisms and public mobilization to oppose any attempt to amend the Constitution and undermine Armenia’s sovereignty.
2. Defending the Armenian Apostolic Church. Using parliamentary authority to oppose what it describes as unlawful actions against the Church and national values.
3. Protecting the rights of political prisoners and prisoners of war. Using parliamentary mandates in Armenia and international forums to defend those facing political persecution, as well as Armenians detained in Baku, and to seek their release.
4. Removing the current government. The alliance described this as its principal political objective, saying parliamentary mandates will serve efforts to remove the current administration and establish a new national government.

The statement added that strong voter turnout and support for opposition parties deprived the ruling authorities of a constitutional majority and provided the opposition with broader political tools to build a nationwide resistance movement and pursue political change.

“The Constitutional Court’s ruling is not the end of the struggle but the beginning of a new, more organized phase.

Recognizing our responsibility to our homeland and our voters, the Hayastan alliance will send an ideological and steadfast political team to parliament, ready to assume its share of responsibility on the front line of political resistance.

There is no alternative to struggle and resistance. Inside and outside parliament, we will continue our efforts for a secure and competitive Armenia,” the statement said.

Earlier, the Strong Armenia alliance, which won the largest share of the opposition vote, also announced that it would take its parliamentary mandates.

The Constitutional Court rejected the appeals filed by seven political forces. Under the final election results, the seats in parliament are allocated as follows: Civil Contract – 64 seats, Strong Armenia – 29 seats, and the Hayastan alliance – 12 seats.