Bright Armenia (Armenian: Լուսավոր Հայաստան, romanized: Lusavor Hayastan) is a classical liberal[1][2] political party in Armenia founded on 12 December 2015.[3]
Bright Armenia Լուսավոր Հայաստան | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Edmon Marukyan |
| Founded | December 12, 2015 |
| Headquarters | Yerevan |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre |
| National affiliation | Way Out Alliance (2016–2018) Bright Alliance (2018) |
| European affiliation | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| Slogan | "There is an Alternative, Vote!" |
| National Assembly | 0 / 107 |
| Yerevan City Council | 0 / 65 |
| Website | |
| brightarmenia | |
History edit
In 2017, Bright Armenia launched an educational program aimed at advancing and promoting liberal politics, known as the Institute of Liberal Politics (ILP); it is an affiliated member of the European Liberal Forum.[4]
In the 2017 Armenian parliamentary election and the 2017 Yerevan City Council election, the party took part in the elections as part of the Way Out Alliance, gaining few seats.
In the 2018 Yerevan City Council election, the party ran as a part of the Bright Alliance. The alliance won three seats in the Yerevan City Council, with two seats taken by Bright Armenia and one seat taken by the Hanrapetutyun Party.
Following the 2018 Armenian parliamentary election, Bright Armenia became the third largest party in the National Assembly and one of the two official opposition parties, the other being Prosperous Armenia.
In May 2021, the party confirmed it would participate in the 2021 Armenian parliamentary elections. Following the election, the party gained just 1.2% of the popular vote, losing all political representation in the National Assembly. The party currently acts as an extra-parliamentary force.
The party participated in the 2023 Yerevan City Council election with Davit Khazhakyan as their candidate for Mayor of Yerevan. Following the election, the party lost all representation in the Yerevan City Council, winning just 1.8% of the vote.[5]
Ideology edit
Bright Armenia is a liberal, pro-European political party. Edmon Marukyan called for raising relations with the European Union to a strategic partnership level.[6] Party members also advocate for visa-free travel of Armenian citizens to the EU's Schengen Area.[7] The party opposes Armenia's current membership in the Eurasian Union and believes that Armenia should withdraw its membership and begin to negotiate an Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the European Union.[8] Bright Armenia supports Armenia's full membership in the EU and wishes to begin the first steps of accession negotiations without delay.[8]
The party manifesto states, "Armenia should show initiative in pan-European processes and structures, presenting itself as the true bearer of the values of European civilization and democracy."[9]
Despite the party's Pro-European orientation, Bright Armenia also believes in maintaining positive cooperation with Russia and ensuring that the interests of Armenia are not compromised in favor of other countries.[10]
Party council edit
The party council consists of the following members:[11]
- Edmon Marukyan
- Gevorg Gorgisyan
- David Khazhakyan
- Ani Samsonyan
- Armen Yeghiazaryan
- Grigory Dokhoyan
- Karen Simonyan
- Srbuhi Grigoryan
- Aren Petunts
- Karine Ghukasyan
- Stepan Stepanyan
- Gevorg Nersesyan
- Angela Khachatryan
- Ararat Stepanyan
- Norayr Karapetyan
- Arshavir Khachatryan
- Igor Avakyan
Electoral record edit
Parliamentary elections edit
Party leader Edmon Marukyan, was elected as an independent MP following the 2012 Armenian parliamentary election.[12]
| Election | Alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | part of Way Out Alliance | 122,049 | 7.78 | 9 / 105
|
|
3rd
|
Opposition (2017–2018) |
| Government (2018) | |||||||
| 2018 | none | 80,024 | 6.37 | 18 / 132
|
 15
|
3rd
|
Opposition |
| 2021 | none | 15,591 | 1.22 | 0 / 107
|
 18
|
9th
|
Extra-parliamentary |
Local elections edit
Yerevan City Council elections edit
| Election | Alliance | Mayor candidate | Votes | % | Seats in City Council | +/– | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | part of Way Out Alliance | 70,730
|
21
|
14 / 65
|
|
2nd
| |
| 2018 | part of Bright Alliance | Artak Zeynalyan
|
18,114
|
4.99
|
3 / 65
|
11
|
3rd
|
| 2023 | none | Davit Khazhakyan
|
4,174
|
1.8
|
0 / 65
|
3
|
7th
|
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Edwards, Maxim. "Armenia's Revolution Will Not be Monopolized". Foreign Policy.
13 December 2018
- ^ Edwards, Maxim (13 December 2018). "Armenia's Revolution Will Not be Monopolized". Foreign Policy.
Bright Armenia is an avowedly pro-EU and classical liberal political party...
- ^ ""Լուսավոր Հայաստան"-ի հիմնադիր համագումարը. 1in.am. ուղիղ (տեսանյութ)". a1plus.am. 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Institute of Liberal Politics".
- ^ "In Yerevan's Mayoral Election, Coming In First Won't Be Enough". September 14, 2023.
- ^ "Bright Armenia: Relations with EU must reach strategic level". news.am. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "Opening dialogue path for visa liberalization with EU among Armenia's priority tasks". armenpress.am. Retrieved Jan 28, 2020.
- ^ a b "Armenia – European Model Country – Future EU Member State | www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved Jan 28, 2020.
- ^ "Լուսավոր Հայաստան Կուսակցության ԱԺ նախընտրական ծրագիր | www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved Jan 28, 2020.
- ^ "Armenia – European Model Country – Future EU Member State | www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved Jan 28, 2020.
- ^ "www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ^ "Էդմոն Մարուքյանի "Լուսավոր Հայաստան"-ը անձերի դեմ չի պայքարի". Azatutyun (in Armenian).