The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has highlighted this Monday the "democratic Armenia" that is approaching "ever closer" to the European Union, in a congratulatory message to the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, after his party won the parliamentary elections on Sunday against the Strong Armenia bloc, led by the Russian businessman of Armenian origin Samuel Karapetyan.
"The spirit of the 'Velvet Revolution' that you led in 2018 is alive and strong," the German conservative leader said in a congratulation to Pashinyan disseminated on her social media.
"We deeply value our partnership with a democratic Armenia that is moving ever closer to Europe," added the head of the EU executive, emphasizing that Armenia "can count" on the Union's support.
The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, also congratulated the Armenian leader upon her arrival at an informal meeting of EU Defense Ministers in Nicosia, where she described the election results as "really good."
"It seems that the Armenian people, even under strong Russian pressure, still choose to have a European future, which is good," the top European diplomat told the media.
Kallas also reiterated the EU's willingness to "help (Armenia) as much as possible" to advance the "future reforms" that the country has ahead.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, for his part, highlighted that "the people of Armenia have voted for a future built on peace, stability, and stronger cooperation with their neighbors and the world," while emphasizing that Pashinyan can "be proud" of his contribution "in strengthening Armenia's resilience, stability, and prosperity."
"Together, the EU and Armenia are building stronger people-to-people ties and creating new opportunities in energy, trade, and digitalization. Our strong partnership is an investment in a more peaceful and prosperous future for the region as a whole," Costa concluded in his congratulatory message to the Armenian Prime Minister, also disseminated on social media.
Pashinyan reaffirms rapprochement with the EU and the link with the Eurasian Economic Union
The data released early this Monday by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) grants 49.81% of the votes to Pashinian's party, while Armenia Alliance, led by Samuel Karapetian, comes in second place with 23.29% of the votes.
Following them is the Armenian Alliance of former President Robert Kocharian, which achieves 9.94% of the support. The Prosperous Armenia party, led by businessman Gagik Tsarukian, obtains 4% of the ballots, just the minimum threshold required to enter Parliament.
Pashinian has celebrated the triumph of his party, which guarantees him a new mandate at the head of the Government, and has committed to "continue the path of rapprochement with the EU," although he has stressed that Yerevan "will continue to be part of the Eurasian Economic Union," in a context where the country is reevaluating its ties with both blocs.
"We will continue to develop relations with Russia and other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union," he stated, amidst full tension with Moscow due to the progressive distancing from its traditional ally and the shift towards the EU and the United States, a process initiated after the military defeat against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, territory that Baku managed to reintegrate in September 2023.