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National Progress Party of Armenia

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National Progress Party of Armenia
SpokespersonHayk Grigoryan[1]
Founded2018
HeadquartersYerevan
IdeologySocial liberalism
Pro-Europeanism[2]
Political positionCentre-left[3]
National affiliationNational Democratic Pole
Slogan"It's time to build the country, national progress."[4]
National Assembly
0 / 107
Yerevan City Council
14 / 65
Website
npp.am

The National Progress Party of Armenia (Armenian: Ազգային առաջընթաց կուսակցություն, romanized: Azgayin arrajynt’ats’ kusakts’ut’yun) is a political party in Armenia, founded on 3 October 2018, by a group of political activists following the 2018 Armenian Velvet Revolution.

History

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Founders of the party included several activists from different civic and environmental movements, including the 2015 Electric Yerevan protests, among others.[5] Most of these activists were also members of the movement called "We are this country," who marched to the president's palace in April 2016, under the slogan "We are with our soldiers."[6]

The party officially launched its platform during its founding convention held on 3 October 2018, in Yerevan.[7]

The party was the only political party running in the 2018 elections which was headed by a woman, Lusine Haroyan.[8][9] Roughly 40% of party members are women.[10]

In April 2019, Lusine Haroyan announced she was stepping down as leader of the party.[11]

On 5 April 2021, the Board of the National Progress Party announced its decision to join the National Democratic Pole political alliance, following the on-going political unrest in the country.

Some members of the party cooperate with the New Power party.[12]

During the 2024 Armenian protests, the party announced that they would not support the "Tavush for the Motherland" movement led by representatives of the former regime.[13]

Ideology

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The party announced social liberalism as its principal ideology, however party members confirmed that the party is not explicitly socialist.[14]

The party also advocates for the welfare state, increasing immigration, rural development, strengthening the middle-class and endorses a regulated market economy and the expansion of civil and political rights, including direct democracy and freedom of press.[15][16]

In terms of foreign policy, the party supports the unification of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh, developing stronger ties with Georgia, the European Union, United States, Iran, India, Japan and China while maintaining positive relations with Russia.[17][18] However, the party believes that Armenia should withdraw its membership from the Eurasian Union and focus on both the Western integration and European integration of Armenia.[19]

Electoral record

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On 9 December 2018, the National Progress Party participated in the 2018 Armenian parliamentary election. The party had 94 candidates across the country.[20][21]

During the 2018 election campaign, the National Progress Party criticized Prime Minister-turned-revolutionary leader Nikol Pashinyan for abandoning the revolutionary agenda, including failure to reform the Constitution, the Electoral Code, the Law on Political Parties and failure towards instituting transitional justice before holding the snap elections. The National Progress Party advocated for abolishing the immunity of parliament members, Constitutional reforms and regional reforms and for greater human rights of citizens.

Following the 2018 election, the party won 4121 votes, or 0.33% of the popular vote.[22] As this was less than the 5% minimum required, the party failed to gain any seats in the National Assembly. After the election results were announced, party members emphasized that they, as an extra-parliamentary force, will continue their activities and follow developments.[23]

The party confirmed it would participate in the 2021 Armenian parliamentary elections as part of the National Democratic Pole alliance. Following the election, the National Democratic Pole received 1.49% of the popular vote, failing to gain any seats in the National Assembly.

The party participated in the 2023 Yerevan City Council election with former Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan nominated as the party's mayoral candidate. Following the election, the party won 18.89% of the vote, gaining 14 seats in the Yerevan City Council.[24]

Parliamentary elections

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2018 Lusine Haroyan 4,121 0.33
0 / 132
 Steady 0 Increase 11th Extra-parliamentary
2021[a] Hayk Grigoryan 18,976 1.49
0 / 107
 Steady 0 Increase 8th Extra-parliamentary

Local elections

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Yerevan City Council elections

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Election Alliance Mayor candidate Votes % Seats in City Council
2023 none
Hayk Marutyan
44,266
18.89
14 / 65
  1. ^ As part of National Democratic Pole

New constitutional movement

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In 2019, the National Progress Party initiated the New Constitution movement by publishing its proposed Constitutional Amendments on its website[25] and asked citizens to engage in the drafting and discussion process. This new form of "crowd-sourced" constitution development is similar to an initiative proposed in Iceland.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Progress. Systemic changes can be a new solution in the new situation". Panorama.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  2. ^ "What political forces are in favor of sharp changes in Armenia's foreign policy? - HayDzayn". Archived from the original on 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  3. ^ "National Progress. Systemic changes can be a new solution in the new situation". Panorama.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  4. ^ "Ազգային առաջընթաց կուսակցությունը ներկայացրել է համամասնական ցուցակի առաջին տասնյակը" [The National Progress Party presented the top ten on the proportional list]. Armtimes.com. 15 November 2018.
  5. ^ "March in protest at funded pensions system in Armenia's capital". www.tert.am. Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  6. ^ "Մենք զինվորի կողքին ենք- Երթ դեպի Բաղրամյան 26" [We are next to the soldier - March to Baghramyan 26]. Tomsarkgh.am. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  7. ^ "Ազգային Առաջընթաց» կուսակցության հիմնադիր համագումարի անցկացման տեղի և ժամի, ինչպես նաև կուսակցության կանոնադրության և ծրագրի հիմնադրույթների մասին - Հայտարարություններ - Հայաստանի Հանրապետության ինտերնետով ծանուցման պաշտոնական կայք".
  8. ^ "National Progress. Systemic changes can be a new solution in the new situation". Panorama.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  9. ^ [We will be your vote in the National Assembly. National Progress Party's first pre-election video https://www.armeniatv.am/hy/71123-71123]
  10. ^ [National Progress Party․ In the National Assembly we will be the support of Nikol Pashinyan http://ankakh.com/article/108270/%C2%ABazgayin-arradjenthats%C2%BB-kusaktsuthyun%E2%80%A4-aj-um--myenq-linyelu-yenq-qaghaqatsu-hyenarane-yev-zspvogh-uj-nikvol-pashinyanin]
  11. ^ [Is Lusine Haroyan out of the National Progress Party? http://www.armdaily.am/?p=19121&l=am]
  12. ^ The process of expressing no confidence in the mayor will be on our agenda. head of the "National Progress" faction of the Council of Elders
  13. ^ The process of expressing no confidence in the mayor will be on our agenda. head of the "National Progress" faction of the Council of Elders
  14. ^ [National Progress Party ․ In the National Assembly we will be the support of Nikol Pashinyan http://ankakh.com/article/108270/%C2%ABazgayin-arradjenthats%C2%BB-kusaktsuthyun%E2%80%A4-aj-um--myenq-linyelu-yenq-qaghaqatsu-hyenarane-yev-zspvogh-uj-nikvol-pashinyanin]
  15. ^ [Formation of the middle class is a top priority in the National Progress Party program https://armenpress.am/arm/news/955841.html]
  16. ^ We will have your voice in the National Assembly: National Progress Party's pre-election promo
  17. ^ "Ծրագիր" [National Progress Party Program]. «Ազգային առաջընթաց» կուսակցություն (in Armenian). Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  18. ^ "The National Progress Party has issued a statement". mamul.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  19. ^ "What political forces are in favor of sharp changes in Armenia's foreign policy? - HayDzayn". haydzayn.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19.
  20. ^ "Ազգային առաջընթաց կուսակցությունը ներկայացրել է համամասնական ցուցակի առաջին տասնյակը" [The National Progress Party presented the top ten on the proportional list]. Armtimes.com (in Armenian). Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  21. ^ National Progress Party: Election campaign in Armenia turns into a process of mutual accusations
  22. ^ [Our expectations were higher; National Progress Party https://lurer.com/?p=306741&l=am]
  23. ^ [Our expectations were higher; National Progress Party https://lurer.com/?p=306741&l=am]
  24. ^ "In Yerevan's Mayoral Election, Coming In First Won't Be Enough". September 14, 2023.
  25. ^ "Սահմանադրություն" ["New Constitution" Initiative] (in Armenian). Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  26. ^ Lessig (2016-05-14). "On Iceland's Crowdsourced Constitution". Medium. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
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