Former President Serzh Sargsyan says Republican Party will skip June 7 electio

Former President Serzh Sargsyan said his Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) has decided to opt out of the 2026 parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7 in order to avoid “dividing the opposition arena” even more.

Sargsyan, the HHK chairman, made the comments at his party’s 18th congress.

He admitted that not everyone within his party was in favor of skipping the elections.

“I know that, with proper work, we could have surpassed the four percent threshold required for the party [to enter parliament]. But I also know another truth, which I reaffirm from this podium. I assure you and our people that even by not participating—more precisely, by not directly participating in these elections—the HHK will continue to be at the center of political developments as one of the vanguards of the struggle,” he said.

Sargsyan said the Republicans will skip the elections to avoid “further dividing the opposition arena” and to give all forces, including those who see the former authorities as obstacles, the opportunity to fulfill their promises for change.

He added: “The HHK made this decision to set an example of subordinating individual ‘selves,’ intra-party interests, and political calculations to collective success. The decision not to participate directly in the elections is also largely based on meticulous sociological research, which shows that our supporters, almost without exception, are prepared to go to the polls and vote only for opposition parties. In other words, our voters’ voices will not be lost but will join those of opposition voters, contributing to the prevention of this government’s re-election.”

Sargsyan emphasized: “Our ego, tempered by life and struggle, has never turned—and will never turn—into selfishness. This decision was not easy, but I have no doubt that we will never be ashamed of it. On the contrary, we will become the best example in Armenia’s contemporary political history of acting ‘With My Party, But For My Nation.’”