President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan said the electoral campaign should be built around ideas, programs, principles and ways of developing Armenia, rather than insults, intolerance or division within society.
Speaking at the launch of the pre-election campaign, Khachaturyan said elections are not only a constitutional mechanism for forming government, but also one of the key indicators of political culture, mutual respect and public responsibility toward the state.
“The campaign should not be built around insults, intolerance or dividing society, but around ideas, programs, principles and ways of developing the country,” the president said.
Khachaturyan noted that elections held in Armenia since 2018 have strengthened public trust in electoral processes and established “a new political reality” based on free expression of will, transparency and the legitimacy of election results.
According to the president, the electoral period should become a platform for healthy and dignified competition of political ideas and visions for the future.
He called on political forces, candidates and their supporters to demonstrate political ethics, civic responsibility and respect during the campaign.
"Political competition can be fierce, but it should never cross the bounds of civility, because the strength of democracy lies not only in free speech, but also in the ability to exercise that freedom with dignity."
Khachaturyan also stressed that state bodies, local self-government authorities, law enforcement agencies and supervisory institutions involved in the electoral process must act strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law, ensuring equal conditions and public trust.
The president expressed confidence that political maturity, mutual respect and civic responsibility would help ensure elections that strengthen democratic institutions, state stability and national solidarity in Armenia.
“I wish this electoral process to become an example of dignified political competition, public trust and the reaffirmation of democratic values, for the sake of a strong, law-based and future-oriented Republic of Armenia.”
