Armenian Elections: Meloni to Pashinyan: “We Will Accompany the Steps Towards Peace” by Carlo Coppola
The Armenian parliamentary elections of 7 June delivered to Nikol Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party (Քաղաքացիական պայմանագիր) a result which, while falling just short of 50 per cent of the vote and therefore not constituting an absolute majority in the strict technical sense, nevertheless guarantees him—by virtue of the substantial majority bonus provided for under Armenia’s electoral legislation—the numbers required to govern without the support of coalition partners. The outgoing Prime Minister, confirmed for a third consecutive term at the helm of the country, has already announced his intention to proceed without delay with the formation of a new government, a process which, unlike in several European constitutional traditions, is not necessarily subject under Armenian law to a parliamentary vote of confidence in the National Assembly.
International congratulations, as might be expected following a result of such political and symbolic significance, were swift in arriving from across the globe, underscoring the continuity of Armenia’s path towards closer integration with Europe. The first international message was sent while the vote count was still underway by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Among the messages received in Yerevan was that of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, deserving of particular attention not only because of the institutional standing of its author, but also for what it reveals—when read with the necessary diplomatic sensitivity—about the current state of relations between Rome and Yerevan. It should be recalled that Prime Minister Meloni became the first Italian head of government ever to set foot on Armenian soil when she attended the 8th Summit of the European Political Community on 3 May 2026.
In the official message, also released in Armenian—a noteworthy sign of respect towards both the recipient and the Armenian people—the Italian Prime Minister extended her warmest wishes on behalf of the Government of the Italian Republic as well as personally. She observed that the Armenian electorate had, for the third time, renewed its confidence in Pashinyan’s leadership and acknowledged the courage with which he had confronted challenges of exceptional complexity.
The message placed particular emphasis on Armenia’s ongoing rapprochement with Europe, a process followed closely and consistently by Italy, as well as on Italy’s firm support for the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The agreement reached in Washington in 2025 was described as a milestone of primary importance. Prime Minister Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to accompanying further steps towards a lasting peace, recognising—perhaps the most genuinely diplomatic element of the entire message—that the stabilisation of regional relations represents an opportunity for stability and prosperity not only for Armenia but for the whole of the South Caucasus. The message also highlighted the strong and dynamic economic ties between the two countries, the cultural and archaeological cooperation that has long united them, and the tangible prospects for collaboration in sectors such as infrastructure and defence.
In concluding these reflections, one is left with the conviction—formed through the daily observation of Armenian affairs—that behind both the promptness and the warmth of this congratulatory message lies the quiet, yet no less steadfast, work of the respective heads of diplomatic mission: H.E. Alessandro Ferranti, Ambassador of Italy to Armenia, and H.E. Vladimir Karapetyan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Italy. Both have long been engaged in further strengthening a bilateral dialogue that, at this juncture, is passing through historically decisive moments for the future of Yerevan and of the entire Caucasus region.
Finally, it is worth emphasising the esteem in which the Republic of Armenia holds Italy. This is also reflected in the choice, made when disseminating news of this institutional message, of an image portraying Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with considerable dignity and authority.
Carlo Coppola
