Legislative in Armenia: pending results, the Pachinian-Kotcharian duel in everyone's mind
In a polling station during the legislative elections in Yerevan on June 20, 2021. AFP - KAREN MINASYAN
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3 min
Nikol Pachinian is playing for survival.
The Prime Minister, weakened by the defeat in the war against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, counts former President Robert Kocharian among his main rival.
The turnout stands at 49.4%, a point above the 2018 election which brought Nikol Pachinian's party to power with more than 70% of the vote after the Velvet Revolution.
The vote count started when the polling stations closed (8 p.m. local, 6 p.m. Paris), but the first results should not be available until midnight, or even early in the morning.
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With our special correspondent in Yerevan,
Anastasia Becchio
The vote count has started, but the first results should not be available until the middle of the night, or even this early Monday morning.
For this election, no official poll was carried out.
The voters had the choice between 25 lists, but it is especially the duel between the party of the outgoing Prime Minister and the block of the former president Robert Kotcharian which occupies the spirits.
Nikol Pashinian has seen his popularity wane in recent months, especially after the defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh against Azerbaijan.
Facing him, ex-President Robert Kotcharian has positioned himself as a strong politician, able to guarantee border security because of his links with Moscow.
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Legislative in Armenia: an unpredictable ballot, Pachinian against Kotcharian
The tension remains
If the campaign took place in a tense atmosphere, this voting day passed without major hitches and without serious violations reported.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which has deployed observers to monitor the transparency of the ballot, is due to present its preliminary findings on Monday.
However, the tension remains and the risk of protests, arm wrestling or even clashes between the two camps is high.
Liberal Party candidate Samvel Babayan summed up the situation: if the gap between the first two is significant, it will be difficult for the team that came second to challenge the result and get their supporters out into the streets.
If, on the other hand, the difference is less, clashes are to be feared.
Mr. Pachinian's supporters are scheduled to meet Monday evening in Yerevan.
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Armenia
Nikol Pachinian