At the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, President of the European Commission José Manuel Durao Barroso pointed to the importance of enhanced media pluralism in Armenia and also the improvement of the electoral conduct. “Both issues will be critical in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in spring 2012. The EU already provides financial and technical support to these reform efforts,” he said.

According to results of 2007 parliamentary elections, five parties entered the Armenian parliament: Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), “Rule of Law” (OYK), Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) and “Heritage” party. The first three formed a ruling coalition, whereas ARF-D and Heritage are oppositional forces.  The ruling coalition holds the overwhelming majority of seats in the 131-seat parliament.