Armenia’s ruling party falls short in Gyumri elections

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party fell short of an absolute majority despite winning most of the votes in Sunday’s municipal elections in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city.

The Central Electoral Commission said on Monday morning that with nearly all ballots counted, Civil Contract received 16,938 votes. 

The opposition Armenian Communist Party finished second with 9,537 votes, followed by the Our City bloc with 7,296 votes.

Two other opposition groups, the My Strong Community party and the Mother Armenia bloc, also secured seats in the Gyumri City Council, winning 3,659 and 2,844 votes, respectively.

613 ballot papers were declared invalid.