"Past" newspaper writes: "Although the approaches of the authorities remain superficial and they try to show with careless gestures that they are not at all concerned about the heavy economic challenges facing Armenia, the reality is different. It is already clear from the shrill speeches of the government deputies that they too feel the danger hanging in the air and understand what the huge economic decline expected in the country can lead to. Undoubtedly, the economic crisis is a serious prerequisite for a change of power, but this is not the case when one can look at the problem only from the point of view of political interest. Such a dethronement of the economy is disastrous for the state, and it will take years to overcome its consequences. This is not just a "gift" for the opposition, but a situation where the opposition must be fully prepared to take the reins of the state and manage the huge risks involved.
In parliamentary systems, the control levers assigned to the opposition in the form of committee chairmen, vice-chairmen and other constitutional positions serve not only as a restraint system, but also prepare for the future change of power. The practice of different countries, for example, Germany or Poland, shows that when the parliamentary opposition effectively assumes the levers assigned to it, it makes it possible to prevent a political vacuum and ensure the smooth operation of the state apparatus during the transitional phase of the change of power.
In the current political situation of Armenia, the institutional logic of maturing the change of power also becomes visible. The assumption of leadership of the positions and commissions assigned to it by the Constitution by the opposition in the legislative body is a step to assume its share of the responsibility of state administration. This process is taking place against the background of the deepening socio-economic crisis, when even in the sector where the full package of Russian sanctions did not enter into force, large declines were already recorded, for example in the field of agriculture.
And now, when Russia has already begun to apply sanctions in full force, it becomes more than clear what kind of apocalyptic picture is expected in the economy in the current and upcoming quarters.
This economic situation is further aggravated by external challenges. Against the backdrop of the deterioration of Armenian-Russian relations, the announcements from Moscow about the possible increase in the prices of gas and energy carriers will inflict an additional heavy blow on the already vulnerable economy. The increase in the price of energy carriers leads to the collapse of all sectors with a chain reaction, which, as the experience of the energy crisis in Europe in the 1970s has shown, inevitably brings forward the imperative of political responsibility and change of the authorities.
In the context of this whole picture, it is necessary to consider the data presented by Narek Karapetyan, the head of the "Strong Armenia" faction, according to which the 4 opposition forces received 80% more votes in the 2026 parliamentary elections than in 2021. The actual doubling of the opposition electorate indicates a radical rearrangement of public sentiments.
So, with the past elections, the government did not "seal" its eternal rule at all. On the contrary, the combination of economic abdication, external risks and institutional strengthening of the opposition can cause tectonic cracks in the political system. Everything leads to the fact that the coming period will be extremely interesting, dynamic and promising serious changes in the domestic political life.
More details in today's issue of the newspaper
