Citizen’s Decision
Քաղաքացու որոշում
AbbreviationՔՈ
SecretaryGor Hakobyan[1]
FoundedNovember 3, 2018 (2018-11-03)[2]
HeadquartersYerevan
IdeologySocial democracy
Welfarism[3][4]
Environmentalism[3]
Direct democracy[5][4]
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing[6][3]
Colorsgreen
National Assembly
0 / 107
Website
www.sdp.am

Citizen’s Decision (Armenian: Քաղաքացու որոշում, romanized: K՛aghak՛atsu voroshum, abbreviated ՔՈ, K՛O, 'Your'), also known as the Citizen’s Decision Social-Democratic Party, is an Armenian social-democratic political party founded in November 2018 by a group of left-leaning activists following the Velvet Revolution.[2] The party traces back its origin to the 2012 Mashtots Park Movement.[3][7]

History

The party currently acts as an extra-parliamentary force. The party participated in the 2018 parliamentary election, winning just 0.68% of the vote.[8][9] During the election campaign, the party voiced criticisms of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for alleged shortcomings and advocated reforming the Constitution, the Electoral Code, and instituting transitional justice.[5]

In May 2021, the party confirmed it would participate in the 2021 Armenian parliamentary elections. Following the election, the party won just 0.30% of the popular vote, failing to win any seats in the National Assembly.

In November 2021, the party participated in municipal elections in the city of Dilijan, winning 2 seats in the Dilijan city council.[10]

Ideology

The party advocates for the welfare state, redistribution of wealth, environmentalism, universal healthcare, free education, gender equality, support of trade unions,[3] and direct democracy.[5][4]

In addition, the party advocates for self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh, establishing peace in the Caucasus region and maintaining neutral relations with Russia.[11] Some party members have called for the renegotiation of agreements between Armenia and Russia, in particular, the presence of the Russian military base in Armenia.[12]

Electoral performance

In the 2018 election, the party won 8,530 votes or 0.68% of the total vote.[13] The party won 1.3% in Arabkir and 1.2% in Kentron districts of Yerevan. Outside the capital, it had above-average support in the province of Tavush, especially in the regional center Ijevan (2.8%) and the village of Yenokavan (28.6%). The latter was explained by the endorsement of the party and speculated financial support by Tigran Chibukhchyan, the owner of Yell Extreme Park based in Yenokavan.[14]

Parliamentary elections

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2018 Suren Sahakyan 8,514 0.68
0 / 132
 Steady 0 Increase 9th Extra-parliamentary
2021 3,775 0.30
0 / 107
 Steady 0 Decrease 18th Extra-parliamentary

Activities

In November 2020, Suren Sahakyan along with the leaders of the Democratic Party of Armenia and the Armenian Constructive Party met with President Armen Sargsyan to discuss the political situation in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.[15]

On 26 February 2021, the Citizen's Decision party held a joint rally with the National Democratic Pole in Yerevan.[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Գոռ Հակոբյան․ Գործադիր մարմնի քարտուղար".
  2. 1 2 "Citizen's Decision: New Social-Democratic Party Created Today". Hetq.am. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Liakhov, Peter (4 December 2018). "Armenia's Velvet Jacobins". EurasiaNet.
  4. 1 2 3 Avedikyan, Manuk (15 November 2018). "New Political Parties and a Failed Electoral Code". Armenian Weekly.
  5. 1 2 3 "Քաղաքացու որոշում սոցիալ-դեմոկրատները մանդարիններ են բաժանել Գյումրիում (տեսանյութ)" (in Armenian). A1plus. 6 December 2018.
  6. ↑ Ghalechyan, Narine (14 November 2018). ""Քաղաքացու որոշում"-ը "հակված է" մասնակցել ընտրություններին". azatutyun.am (in Armenian). RFE/RL.
  7. ↑ Kocharyan, Stepan (26 November 2018). "Citizen's Decision Party highlights social-economic situation, says parliament is additional tool for struggle". Armenpress.
  8. ↑ "Eleven Political Parties Register For Armenia's Parliamentary Elections". RFE/RL. 15 November 2018.
  9. ↑ Kopalyan, Nerses (20 November 2018). "No Parliament for Rich, Old Men". EVN Report.
  10. ↑ "Municipal Elections Bring Prospects of Coalition-Building". www.evnreport.com.
  11. ↑ "Արտաքին քաղաքականություն — Քաղաքացու որոշում". www.sdp.am. Archived from the original on 2018-11-22.
  12. ↑ "What political forces are in favor of sharp changes in Armenia's foreign policy?". haydzayn.com. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19. The election program of the party "Citizen's Decisions" states that bilateral agreements between Armenia and Russia should be revised, in particular, on the military base in Gyumri and the Russian border troops.
  13. ↑ "ԿԸՀ-ն ամփոփել է 2010 ընտրատեղամասերի արդյունքները, "Իմ քայլը" ստացել է ձայների 70,43 տոկոսը". azatutyun.am (in Armenian). RFE/RL. 10 December 2018.
  14. ↑ ""Քաղաքացու որոշում" կուսակցությանը ֆինանսավորում է Ենոքավանում գտնվող "Յելլ էքսթրիմ պարկ"ի սեփականատերը" (in Armenian). tert.am. 21 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  15. ↑ "Նախագահ Արմեն Սարգսյանը շարունակում է խորհրդակցությունները քաղաքական ուժերի հետ - Մամուլի հաղորդագրություններ - Լրատվություն - Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Նախագահ". www.president.am.
  16. ↑ "The "Citizen's Decision" party and the "National People's Burden" held rallies".
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