From press to politics or sympathy to hatred: Gallup's downbeat survey on Pashinyan's rating

By Elnur Enveroglu

Nikol Pashinyan, who transferred from journalism to politics, has been leading the government of Armenia for more than 6 years. His coming to power and his reign were marked by many significant events both within Armenia and in the region. In general, Pashinyan was able to gain charisma by effectively using the vacuum created by the Armenian political crisis. His rise to power through the Velvet Revolution was precisely to overthrow the outdated political ideology and form a new Western-leaning state.

When Nikol Pashinyan was working as a journalist, he was distinguished by his critical approach to Russia’s influence in his country. After receiving a 1-year prison sentence for an article published in his founded newspaper in 1998, he threw himself into the world of politics. To topple the power of his main rival, Serzh Sargsyan, Pashinyan gathered a large number of supporters and even parted ways with the party of former Armenian leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan, whom he adored, and created a new Civil Contract party.

After the Velvet Revolution in 2018, Nikol Pashinyan started a new era in Armenia. According to Pashinyan's ideas, this was both democracy and the gate to the new Western world. Nikol Pashinyan could easily convince the people in this way because the corrupt and obsolete government in the country could not fulfil the promises before the people. The occupation of Garabagh by a fluke back in the 1990s, but the lack of prospects, did not help to realise the promises. On the other hand, as the economic situation of the country was in dire situation, it was very necessary to force the government to go for new reforms.

When Pashinyan first came to power six years ago, he was the most popular new political figure in Armenia. When he shifted from the media to active politics, many people hoped that he would have made a progressive change, while the opposition, which had been rooted in politics for a long time, had lost the sympathy of the Armenian population.

Pashinyan wagered his career

By distancing himself from Russia Pashinyan opted for a completely pro-Western policy. He decided on the fate of Armenia but achieved a great change in the South Caucasus in favour of its opponent country.

In 2020, despite wanting to test his political skills in the war, Pashinyan indulged in some illusions under the colours of people's sympathy. He believed that the support of his people would give a synergy to his rule and he would be able to gain more than his successors. Having been deceived by the magic of the Armenian government, Pashinyan first promised to eliminate the occupation, but on the contrary, he further infuriated Baku with his appetite for expanding its invasion plans.

Nikol Pashinyan thought that his country’s old arsenal was more than enough to carry out Armenia’s expansionist policy, so did not apply his modern ideas to renewing his military capacity. He made a hasty decision to go to war and his dreams were shattered in just 44 days.

Today, approximately 60% of Armenian citizens dislike the work of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. This is proven by the results of the survey conducted by "MPG/Gallup International Association" from October 24 to 30. The fact that Pashinyan is inconsistent and unreliable in politics is seriously worrying Armenians.

Pashinyan, who came to power with the people's sympathy and the velvet revolution, is met with hatred today, and this is growing due to his indecisiveness and failure in politics.

In history, defeated leaders usually commit suicide or resign. But for Pashinyan, the world of politics lasted a bit longer. He was re-elected as Prime Minister a year after his defeat and is still paying for the mistakes he made while in power.