Heritage Ժառանգություն
Leader	Raffi Hovannisian
Founded	2002[1]
Headquarters	Yerevan
Membership	6,450 (2012)[2]
Ideology	National liberalism(self-proclaimed)[3] Liberalism[4][5] Armenian nationalism[6] Pro-Europeanism[3] Pro-Western[7]
Political position	Centre[5] tocentre-right
European affiliation	European People's Party (EPP) (observer)[8] European Democratic Party (before 2012)[9]
International affiliation	Centrist Democrat International(Observer)[10]
National Assembly	0 / 107
Website
heritage.am
Politics of Armenia Political parties Elections

Heritage (Armenian:Ժառանգություն,romanized: Zhaṙangut’yun) is anArmeniannational liberalpolitical party. It was founded in 2002 byRaffi Hovannisian, independent Armenia's firstForeign Minister.

• Liberal democracy is the party's principle ideology.^[9]

Economy

• The party has stated its support forEconomic liberalism.^[9]
• Other domestic policy goals include legal reforms, the development of civil society and the economic development of Armenia. Heritage has stated that sustaining the competitiveness of the market will help strengthen theArmenian economy.^[11]
• The party also believes that reducing poverty and building good social services should be prioritized. By taking these measures, Heritage has the objective to reduce emigration from Armenia and stop the "brain drain" from the country.^[11]
• The party supports the establishment of aDeep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Armenia and the EU.^[12]

Foreign Affairs

• The party's foreign policy can be characterized as balanced, but also as pro-Western. The Heritage party underlines maintaining and developing good relations with theUnited States,Russia,Georgia,China andIndia, but seesEuropean integration and cooperation as the key to progress. European integration is not a goal on its own, but rather a tool for improved well-being, prosperity and security. With Turkey, Heritage advocates an open and honest dialogue.^[11]
• The party not only advocates for the integration of Armenia with Europe but also the eventualaccession of Armenia into theEuropean Union.^[3] Heritage firmly believes that for centuries Armenia has been one of the constituents of European civilization, regardless of the geographical boundaries drawn forEurope.^[13] The party believes that Armenia must adhere toPan-European values and that Armenia can contribute to the enrichment of Europe's cultural heritage.
• Some party members have advocated their support for the withdrawal of Armenia from theCollective Security Treaty Organization.^[14]
• The party supports recognition of theRepublic of Artsakh as an independent state (the party has several times unsuccessfully proposed bills in parliament that would formally recognize the Republic of Artsakh by Armenia).^[15]
• Continued cooperation with bothNATO andCIS member states.^[13]

The party emerged as the fifth largest party in theNational Assembly of Armenia after its debut in the2007 Armenian parliamentary elections. It won 6% of the popular vote and obtained 7 seats.

Prior to the2012 parliamentary election, someFree Democrats party members decided to run under the Heritage list. Following the election, Heritage won 5 seats with 86,998 votes, becoming the smallest faction within the National Assembly, withZaruhi Postanjyan as its leader.^[16]

Heritage participated in the2017 Armenian parliamentary election as part of theORO Alliance, however the alliance gained just 2.07% of the popular vote, winning no seats.

The party decided not to participate in the2018 Armenian parliamentary election or the2021 Armenian parliamentary election. The party currently acts as anextra-parliamentary force.

Year	Party-list			Constituency seats	Total seats	+/–
	Votes	%	Seats/total
2007	81,048	6.0%	7 / 90	0 / 41	7 / 131	7
2012	86,998	5.8%	5 / 90	0 / 41	5 / 131	2
2017	32,508	2.07%	0 / 90	0 / 41	0 / 131	5

The party participated in the2013 Yerevan City Council elections as part of theBarev Yerevan alliance. Barev Yerevan consisted mostly of Heritage party members, in addition to a few members from theDemocratic Way Party, theDemocratic Homeland Party, and theConservative Party.^[17] The alliance came in third place, winning 8.48% of the vote and gaining 6 seats in theYerevan City Council.

The party participated in the2018 Yerevan City Council elections, receiving just 0.75% of the popular vote, failing to win any seats in the Yerevan City Council.

On 25 March 2021, Raffi Hovannisian met with the President of ArmeniaArmen Sarksyan to discuss the political situation in the country.^[18]

On 1 April 2021, Heritage signed a joint declaration with four other political parties calling on theGovernment of Armenia to ensure free and fair upcoming elections, following the on-goingpolitical unrest in Armenia.^[19]

On 15 April 2021, the party signed a joint statement with eight other political parties calling on the President of Armenia to ensuredemocracy and theConstitution of Armenia is upheld in the country during the2020–2021 Armenian protests.^[20]

• Politics of Armenia
• Programs of political parties in Armenia

• Official website

• 2002 establishments in Armenia
• Armenian nationalism
• Liberal parties in Armenia
• Nationalist parties in Armenia
• Parties related to the European People's Party
• Political parties established in 2002
• Political parties in Armenia
• Pro-European political parties in Armenia

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