🇬🇧 National Elections of 1919. The First Republic of Armenia
First Republic of Armenia
Formation of the First Parliament of the Republic of Armenia
After the proclamation of the independence of Armenia on May 28, 1918, holding full parliamentary elections proved impossible. The country was in an extremely difficult situation: war, famine, epidemics, and an economic blockade did not allow for nationwide voting.
Under these conditions, a temporary decision was made to expand the Armenian National Council in Tbilisi and transform it into the Parliament of Armenia. The new body consisted of 46 deputies: 18 representatives of the Dashnaktsutyun party, six deputies each from the Social Democrats, Populists, and Socialist Revolutionaries, two independents, and eight representatives of national minorities — six Tatars, one Russian, and one Yazidi. Avetik Sahakyan became the chairman of parliament.
However, it soon became clear that the parliament did not reflect the real mood of society and lacked sufficient legitimacy.
The Split Between Western and Eastern Armenians
One of the main internal contradictions of the young republic was the conflict between Western and Eastern Armenians. After the Armenian Genocide of 1915, tens of thousands of refugees from the Ottoman Empire resettled in Eastern Armenia, but many of them felt alienated from the political life of the republic.
At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, the interests of the Republic of Armenia were represented by a delegation headed by Avetis Aharonian, while a significant part of Western Armenians supported the National Delegation of Boghos Nubar Pasha.
For many Western Armenians, the Republic of Armenia was not seen as a full Armenian state, but rather as the “Ararat Republic.” They continued to consider historical Western Armenia as the true Armenia.
Western Armenians distrusted the state institutions of the republic, avoided military service, and regarded the National Delegation of Boghos Nubar as more authoritative than the government in Yerevan.
Second Congress of Western Armenians
In February 1919, the Second Congress of Western Armenians was convened in Yerevan. Its organizers declared that Western Armenians should speak for themselves and determine the political future of the nation.
The congress proclaimed the independence of a United Armenia, authorized Boghos Nubar Pasha to act on behalf of Western Armenians, and called for cooperation with the Parliament of the Republic of Armenia. However, instead of unity, this process deepened political divisions.
Political Crisis and Disorder in Parliament
By early 1919, parliament had fallen into a deep crisis. Opposition forces — Populists, Social Democrats, and Socialist Revolutionaries — accused the ruling Dashnaktsutyun party of monopolizing power.
On February 28, 1919, a parliamentary session turned into an open scandal. Calls were made to dissolve parliament and hold new elections. The chairman was forced to suspend the session, and the deputy chairman Zubyan was physically pulled from the podium.
The incident showed that the existing parliament had exhausted its legitimacy and needed re-election.
New Electoral Law
On March 31, 1919, a new electoral law was adopted. It introduced proportional representation, closed party lists, secret ballot voting, and participation of both men and women over the age of 20. Parliament was to consist of 80 deputies.
A multi-level system of electoral commissions was created: central, provincial, regional, municipal, village, and local commissions.
In April 1919, parliament suspended its activities and transferred authority to the government during election preparations. Two hundred thousand rubles were allocated for the campaign. Election day was set for June 21, 1919.
Disputes Around the May 28 Act
In spring 1919, the authorities decided to solemnly mark the anniversary of independence and adopt a declaration on the unification of Armenian lands. This decision triggered a new wave of political conflict.
Initially, part of the opposition supported the idea of a united Armenia, but later their position changed. The Populists demanded the creation of a joint provisional government including the delegation of Boghos Nubar Pasha.
The Dashnaktsutyun party rejected the proposal. In response, the Populists left the coalition and announced a boycott of the elections.
Some Western Armenian representatives also opposed the expansion of parliament and sharply criticized the inclusion of new deputies.
Criticism of Parliamentarism and Election Boycott
Dissatisfaction grew not only among political parties but also in society. Parliament was increasingly called the “House of Talkers,” and deputies were accused of blindly copying European governance models without considering local conditions.
Even within parliament, there were calls to abandon the existing legislative system and establish “revolutionary law.”
Boghos Nubar also opposed the elections, stating that Western Armenians’ participation in voting was inappropriate. His position strongly influenced the Populists’ decision to boycott the elections.
Electoral Campaign
Despite the crisis, election preparations continued. The campaign of the Dashnaktsutyun party was built around social and national slogans, including the ideas of an independent and united Armenia and the protection of the working people.
The Socialist Revolutionaries participated in the elections and criticized the ruling party for the lack of reforms and inability to solve social problems.
Voting took place from June 21 to June 23, 1919.
The following lists were registered:
Election Results
The elections ended with a decisive victory for the Dashnaktsutyun party.
Dashnaktsutyun — 230,271 votes and 72 mandates
Socialist Revolutionaries — 13,239 votes and 4 mandates
Muslim list — 8,187 votes and 3 mandates
Peasant Union — 4,224 votes and 1 mandate
Kurdish list — 1,305 votes
Populists — 481 votes
Assyrian list — 173 votes
The boycott by the Populists and part of the Western Armenians significantly facilitated the ruling party’s victory.
Formation of the New Government
After the elections, the Second National Assembly instructed Alexander Khatisian to form a new government. The cabinet was approved on August 10, 1919.
Alexander Khatisian — Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Abram Gyulkhandanyan — Minister of Justice and Minister of Internal Affairs
Sargis Araratyan — Minister of Finance and Minister of Supply
Avetik Sahakyan — Minister of Public Welfare, Minister of Agriculture and State Property
Nikol Aghbalyan — Minister of Education
Kristapor Araratyan — Minister of War
All ministers except Kristapor Araratyan were members of the Dashnaktsutyun party.
Conclusion
The elections of 1919 became the first general parliamentary elections in the history of the Republic of Armenia. They demonstrated the young republic’s aspiration toward a parliamentary system, but at the same time revealed deep political, social, and national contradictions that continued to intensify in the following years.