Prosperous Armenia

{{Short description|Armenian political party}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox political party

| country = Armenia

| name = Prosperous Armenia

| native_name = Բարգավաճ Հայաստան Կուսակցություն

| logo = Prosperous Armenia logo.png

| logo_size = 250px

| leader = Gagik Tsarukyan

| foundation = 30 April 2004

| ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap|

|Social conservatism

|Economic liberalism

|Russophilia

|Euroscepticism}}

| position = Centre-right

| membership =

| international =

| european = Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (until 2022){{cite web|url=http://www.aecr.eu/prosperous-armenia-joins-aecr/|title=Prosperous Armenia joins AECR|publisher=Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists|access-date=7 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714121345/http://www.aecr.eu/prosperous-armenia-joins-aecr/|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite tweet|user=EuropeElects|number=1573012329591181317|title=Russia: Going forward, the pro-Putin Yedinaya Rossiya party will only be labelled as indirectly affiliated with EPP & ID after YeR's partner 'Prosperous Armenia' was removed from the ECR Party's membership, meaning there is no indirect affiliation between ECR & YeR anymore}}

| national = Homeland Salvation Movement (2020-2021)

| headquarters = Yerevan

| colorcode = {{party color|Prosperous Armenia}}

| website = http://www.bhk.am/

| seats1_title = National Assembly

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|107|hex={{party color|Prosperous Armenia}}}}

| slogan = "Safe, Powerful Homeland"

}}

Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP; {{langx|hy|Բարգավաճ Հայաստան կուսակցություն|Bargavach Hayastan kusakts’ut’yun}}, abbreviated as ԲՀԿ BHK), is a conservative political party in Armenia.{{cite web|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|date=2007|title=Armenia|url=http://parties-and-elections.de/armenia.html|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827121520/http://parties-and-elections.de/armenia.html|archive-date=27 August 2011|url-status=unfit}} It was founded by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan on 30 April 2004, when the constituent congress of the party took place.{{cite web |first=Liz |last=Fuller |url= http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/04/16f2ef9f-2f7c-44e2-9328-ab52e5f3c2c4.html |title=Armenia: Election Campaign Gets Off To Uneasy Start |publisher= Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=April 19, 2007}}

Ideologically, the party is positioned as centre-right on the political spectrum,{{cite web|url=https://www.lloydsbanktrade.com/en/market-potential/armenia/political-context|title=The political framework of Armenia|publisher=Lloyds Bank}} it advocates economic liberalism,{{cite web|date=2012|title=Armenia 2012: An introduction to the political party landscape|url=http://www.eufoa.org/uploads/ArmeniaPoliticalPartyGuide.pdf|publisher=European Friends of Armenia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330003104/http://www.eufoa.org/uploads/ArmeniaPoliticalPartyGuide.pdf|pages=9–10|archive-date=30 March 2016}} closer ties with Russia,{{cite web|last1=Zasztowt|first1=Konrad|title=Armenia between European and Eurasian Integration Models|url=http://www.pism.pl/files/?id_plik=13337|publisher=Polish Institute of International Affairs|access-date=8 June 2014|location=Warsaw|page=1|date=9 April 2013|quote=...the pro-Russian party Prosperous Armenia.}}{{cite news|last1=Khachatrian|first1=Haroutiun|title=Armenia and Russia Agree: Foreign Policy Change Unlikely After Elections|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav051007b.shtml|work=eurasianet.org|publisher=Open Society Institute|date=9 May 2007|quote=Prosperous Armenia Party, an avowedly pro-Russian stance.|access-date=31 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610134636/http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav051007b.shtml|archive-date=10 June 2007|url-status=dead}} and regarding the European Union it is eurosceptic,{{cite news |last1=Danielyan |first1=Emil |title=Tsarukian Endorsed By Eurosceptic EU Politicians |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/28382654.html |work=azatutyun.am |agency=RFE/RL |date=21 March 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Rowley |first1=Thomas |title=Why are so many Brexiteer politicians cosying up to this Armenian oligarch? |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/why-are-so-many-brexiteer-politicians-cosying-armenian-oligarch/ |agency=openDemocracy |date=24 May 2019}} while on social issues they are traditionalist. Armenia's second president Robert Kocharyan was instrumental in creation of the party,{{cite book|last1=Hale|first1=Henry|title=Patronal Politics|date=2014|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=1MC0BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA357&dq=Prosperous+Armenia+was+a+kind+of+political+insurance+policy+by+kocharian 357]|quote=...Prosperous Armenia was a kind of political insurance policy by Kocharian...}} with some claiming that Kocharyan himself established it.{{cite news|title=Ashotyan: speech of Armenian president came as response to blackmail, ignorance and stupidity|url=http://arka.am/en/news/politics/ashotyan_speech_of_armenian_president_came_as_response_to_blackmail_ignorance_and_stupidity/|agency=ARKA News Agency|date=13 February 2015|quote=«Prosperous Armenia party was established as a political project of Robert Kocharyan, the second Armenian president, to divide the power resource and ensure the presence of the second president on the country's political arena,» Ashotyan said.}} Kocharyan's influence and role in the party is a subject of debate. In 2012, "most analysts" believed Kocharyan was "closely involved in the party."{{cite news|last1=Harutyunyan|first1=Vahe|title=Armenian Opposition Party Shuns Key Election|url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/armenian-opposition-party-shuns-key-election|agency=Institute for War and Peace Reporting|date=14 December 2012}} Some "believe that Kocharyan is the secret leader of the party",{{cite news|title=Prosperous Armenia leader undisposed to run for presidency|url=http://arka.am/en/news/politics/prosperous_armenia_leader_undisposed_to_run_for_presidency/|agency=ARKA News Agency|date=21 November 2012}} while others believe he has no influence over PAP.{{cite news|title=Robert Kocharyan has no relation to Prosperous Armenia - Iskandaryan|url=http://news.am/eng/news/189155.html|work=news.am|date=14 January 2014}}