"Zhoghovurd" daily writes: "Before the 2026 parliamentary elections, on February 3, in an interview with News.am, Aghvan Vardanyan literally stated: "If I take part in the elections and be in the opposition, but Nikol Pashinyan is in power, I will give up the mandate." After the June 7 elections, it became clear that Nikol Pashinyan retained the power. In other words, the situation that Aghvan Vardanyan was talking about months ago has been created. However, until this moment, the deputy of the "Armenia" bloc has not announced that he is giving up the mandate or is going to fulfill his public promise.
Moreover, the journalist of ArmLur.am tried to get an explanation from him the other day, whether he is going to fulfill his public promise. However, Vardanyan avoided giving a clear answer, stating only that. "Unlike many people, I am constantly thinking." According to "Zhoghovurd" daily, it is being discussed in the opposition circles that Aghvan Vardanyan not only does not want to give up the parliamentary mandate, but also claims to have a coordinating role between the "Armenia" and "Strong Armenia" factions. Since he is the godfather of the wedding of Narek Karapetyan, a member of the board of the "Strong Armenia" party, Vardanyan, as a link between the two opposition factions, wants to become the leader of the "Armenia" faction. Time will tell if it will work or not.
Let's remind that if Aghvan Vardanyan renounces the parliamentary mandate, then Garnik Danielyan will enter the National Assembly on the list of the "Armenia" bloc, whose political activity, in the opposition circles and in the general public perception, is evaluated more positively. And what decision Aghvan Vardanyan will make: will he renounce the mandate, fulfilling his pre-election promise, or will he keep it, presenting a different justification, will become clear in the near future.
However, if he does not fulfill his public promise, it turns out that after years of accusing Nikol Pashinyan of not fulfilling pre-election promises and clinging to power, today he will be the target of the same criticism. In this situation, it is difficult not to notice the questioning of political double standards. when the opposition demands responsibility and fulfillment of pre-election promises from the government, the same standard is naturally applicable to opposition figures. Otherwise, a significant part of the criticism directed at Pashinyan may lose its political and moral influence, and the decision not to give up the parliamentary mandate may be perceived by many as the same "clinging to the chair" behavior for which Vardanyan has criticized Nikol Pashinyan for years." Details in today's issue of "Zhoghovurd" daily.
