Marukyan warns of `authoritarian nightmare` under Pashinyan`s third  term

ArmInfo.  Armenia will fail to find political solutions to its current crises, its political system will stagnate, and the country will plunge deeper into an  "authoritarian nightmare" during Nikol Pashinyan's third term. This  warning was issued in a video address by Edmon Marukyan, leader of  the Bright Armenia (Lusavor Hayastan) party, following the  parliamentary election victory of Pashinyan's Civil Contract party.

He emphasized that Pashinyan has "absolutely no brakes," and that the  political forces in parliament will be powerless.  Marukyan stated  that the people had voted for a "political desert." Marukyan  clarified that his critique was not born out of bitterness. "I am not  saying this simply because we didn't win, but because those with  genuine political thinking could have won," he stated. "Problems will  not be solved in this desert. We face fundamental challenges ahead,  alongside a severe famine of political thought and discourse.  However, I want to remind you of our promise: regardless of the  election results, we will remain in politics," the political leader  said. Looking ahead, the party leader predicted an impending wave of  political persecution, detentions, and arrests, warning that "the  majority will go to prison."

"When this campaign against the opposition begins, the opposition  will be forced to defend itself," Marukyan declared. "And while that  struggle unfolds, no one will be addressing the actual issues facing  Armenia."