Armenian ex-president warns of PM Pashinyan's waning popularity “his re-election chances are near zero”

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan believes that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s political bloc has lost a considerable part of its voter base and, in his assessment, has almost no chance of securing re-election.

As reported by Armenian media, Kocharyan made these remarks during an interview with Armenia’s Channel Five, per Caliber.Az.

He noted that although Pashinyan still retains the backing of a segment of the electorate, that support has significantly diminished. According to Kocharyan, the prime minister’s approval rating has been consistently declining, reflecting a broader erosion of trust.

Commenting on the state of the opposition, Kocharyan acknowledged that competition within its ranks is intensifying and not always in a constructive manner. He pointed out that political discussions are increasingly dominated by talk of street protests and impeachment.

"The topic of impeachment is reminiscent of an old joke: the CIA director was fired because he couldn't figure out what the Soviet trade unions were doing. The current situation around the impeachment process is much the same. Nevertheless, every political party has the right to position itself in the way it sees fit," he said.

Kocharyan emphasised that the political movement he leads is prepared to participate in both scheduled and snap elections. Moreover, it is also ready to engage in public mobilisation if necessary.

Armenia’s next parliamentary elections are slated to take place on June 7, 2026.

By Tamilla Hasanova