Confrontation as a political tool: Pashinyan again threatens to go to the streets

Nikol Pashinyan says that if the opposition votes against the new Constitution, public pressure will be mobilised — and that the government itself should lead the effort. In this report, his remarks are compared with the events of October 2, 2018, when thousands of people, responding to Pashinyan’s call, surrounded and blocked the National Assembly.

Back then, the political objective was to push for snap elections and consolidate power. Now, the aim is to overcome opposition resistance to the adoption of a new Constitution.

What risks do these statements carry? Could they lead to clashes, and how is the opposition responding?