Bright Armenia

Bright Armenia (Armenian: Լուսավոր Հայաստան) is a classical liberal[2] political party in Armenia founded on December 12, 2015.[3]

Bright Armenia Լուսավոր Հայաստան
Leader	Edmon Marukyan
Founded	December 12, 2015 (2015-12-12)
Headquarters	Yerevan
Ideology	Classical liberalism[1] Pro-Europeanism[1] Anti-EAEU[1]
Political position	Centre
National affiliation	Bright Alliance (2018) Way Out Alliance (2016–2018)
European affiliation	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
National Assembly	17 / 132
Yerevan City Council	1 / 65
Website
brightarmenia.am
Politics of Armenia Political parties Elections

History

In the Armenian parliamentary election 2017 and Yerevan City Council election 2017, it took part in the elections as part of the Way Out Alliance (YELQ) gaining few seats.

In the 2018 Yerevan City Council elections it run as a part of the Bright Alliance. The Alliance won three seats, two seats were taken by Bright Armenia and one seat was taken by 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.

Bright Armenia is an affiliated member of the European Liberal Forum's Institute of Liberal Politics.[4]

Political position

Bright Armenia is a liberal, pro-European political party. Edmon Marukyan called for raising relations with the European Union to a strategic partnership level.[5] Party members also advocate for visa-free travel of Armenian citizens to the EU's Schengen Area.[6] 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.[7] Bright Armenia supports Armenia's full membership in the EU and wishes to begin the first steps of accession negotiations without delay.[7]

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."[8]

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.[9]

Party council

The party council consists of 12 members.[10]

• Edmon Marukyan - President of the Party
• Mane Tandilyan - Vice-President of the Party[11]
• Gevorg Gorgisyan
• Davit Khazhakyan
• Ani Samsonyan
• Beniamin Pluzyan
• Armen Yeghiazaryan
• Grigori Dokhoyan
• Anna Kostanyan
• Harutyun Babayan
• Sergey Anisonyan
• Karen Simonyan

Electoral record

Parliamentary elections

Party leader Edmon Marukyan, was elected as an independent MP in Armenian parliamentary election 2012.[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

Local elections

Yerevan City Council elections

Election	Alliance	Mayor candidate	Votes	%	Seats in City Council	+/–	Position
2017	part of Way Out Alliance	Nikol Pashinyan	70,730	21	14 / 65		2nd
2018	part of Bright Alliance	Artak Zeynalyan	18,114	4.99	3 / 65	11	3rd

See also

• Programs of political parties in Armenia

References

1. 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...
2. Edwards, Maxim. "Armenia's Revolution Will Not be Monopolized". Foreign Policy. 13 December 2018
3. ""Լուսավոր Հայաստան"-ի հիմնադիր համագումարը. 1in.am. ուղիղ (տեսանյութ)". a1plus.am.
5. "Bright Armenia: Relations with EU must reach strategic level". news.am. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
6. "Opening dialogue path for visa liberalization with EU among Armenia's priority tasks". armenpress.am. Retrieved Jan 28, 2020.
7. "Armenia – European Model Country – Future EU Member State | www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved Jan 28, 2020.
8. "Լուսավոր Հայաստան Կուսակցության ԱԺ նախընտրական ծրագիր | www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved Jan 28, 2020.
9. "Armenia – European Model Country – Future EU Member State | www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved Jan 28, 2020.
10. "www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
11. "www.brightarmenia.am". Bright Armenia Party. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
12. "Էդմոն Մարուքյանի "Լուսավոր Հայաստան"-ը անձերի դեմ չի պայքարի". Azatutyun (in Armenian).