Apricot Country Party

{{Infobox political party | name = Apricot Country Party | leader = [[Zaruhi Postanjyan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/552053.html|title=Yerkir Tsirani party of Armenia: CC head is subjected to political persecution|website=news.am|date=7 June 2023 }}</ref> | logo = File:Apricot_Country_Party_Logo.png | deputy_leader = | president = | chairman = | general_secretary = | first_secretary = | secretary_general = | presidium = | secretary = | spokesperson = | foundation = {{Start date|2017|03|15|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://a1plus.am/hy/article/162770|title=Փոստանջյանը մտավ ԿԸՀ ու բացականչեց. "Երկիր ծիրանին" ողջունում է բոլորիդ". Առավոտ|website=A1Plus|date=7 June 2023 }}</ref> | dissolution = | ideology = [[Liberalism]]<br />[[Progressivism]]<br />[[Pro-Europeanism]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.civilnet.am/news/2017/03/16/«Երկիր-ծիրանի»-ն-հրապարակել-է-հռչակագիրը/310804|title="Երկիր ծիրանի"-ն հրապարակել է ծրագրային դրույթներն ու հռչակագիրը|website=www.civilnet.am}}</ref> | headquarters = [[Yerevan]] | international = | national = [[Homeland Salvation Movement]] {{small|(2020-2021)}} | website = [http://www.yerkirtsirani.am/ yerkirtsirani.am] | country = Armenia | head_office = | merger = | seats1 = {{Infobox political party/seats|0|107|}} | seats1_title = [[National Assembly of Armenia|National Assembly]] | native_name = Երկիր ծիրանի կուսակցություն | colorcode = #ffa500 | position = [[Centrism|Centre]] | slogan = "Towards Ararat"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://armtimes.com/hy/article/107238|title="Երկիր ծիրանի". Զարուհի Փոստանջյանի կուսակցությունը որդեգրում է "Դեպի Արարատ" կարգախոսը|website=Armtimes.com}}</ref> }}

The '''Apricot Country Party''' ({{langx|hy|Երկիր ծիրանի կուսակցություն|translit=Yerkir tsirani kusakts’ut’yun}}), also known as '''Yerkir Tsirani''' is a [[political party]] in [[Armenia]].

== History == The party was established in March 2017, prior to the [[2017 Yerevan City Council election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lragir.am/2017/04/15/151718/|title=Ելք, Երկիր Ծիրանի, ՀՀԿ. ԿԸՀ-ն հաստատեց}}</ref> Party leader [[Zaruhi Postanjyan]], a former member of the [[Heritage (Armenia)|Heritage]] party, was nominated to run for Mayor of [[Yerevan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/542323.html|title=Yerkir Tsirani party of Armenia: For past 30 years there has been emptiness that demands new ideas from us|website=news.am|date=7 June 2023 }}</ref> Following the election, Postanjyan came in third place.

On 9 November 2020, the party signed a joint declaration with the other member parties of the [[Homeland Salvation Movement]] calling on Prime Minister [[Nikol Pashinyan]] to resign during the [[2020–2021 Armenian protests]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=57905&lang=1|title=Arminfo: 17 քաղաքական կուսակցություններ պահանջում են Նիկոլ Փաշինյանի և նրա թիմի հրաժարականը|website=arminfo.info}}</ref>

The party does not have any political representation in the [[National Assembly (Armenia)|National Assembly]] and currently acts as an [[Extra-parliamentary opposition|extra-parliamentary]] force.

== Ideology == The parties manifesto calls for the development of strong and progressive statehoods of both Armenia and [[Republic of Artsakh|Artsakh]], while opposing authoritarianism. The party encourages economic reform and immigration to Armenia, increasing environmental protection, and improving [[human rights]] for all citizens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecolur.org/en/news/electionspoliticsecology/in-case-yerkir-tsirani-wins-elections-it-promises-to-recover-eliminated-green-zones-in-yerevan/10418/|title=In case|website=www.ecolur.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://a1plus.am/en/article/179455|title=Goodbye to failed republic - statement of Yerkir Tsirani (video)|website=A1Plus|date=6 June 2023 }}</ref> The party advocates for allowing the [[Armenian Diaspora]] to be allowed to vote in elections and giving the Armenian Diaspora political representation within the [[National Assembly (Armenia)|National Assembly]]. The party also supports the recognition of Artsakh as an independent state.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/arm/news/481032.html|title="Երկիր Ծիրանին" մերժում է "ՀՀ խորհրդարանական ընտրություններ" անվանումով կեղծ նախաձեռնությունը|website=news.am|date=7 June 2023 }}</ref>

In terms of foreign policy, the party supports Armenia's [[European integration]] and believes that Armenia belongs to the [[Pan-European identity|Pan-European]] family of states.<ref name="auto"/>

== Electoral record == The party participated in the [[2017 Yerevan City Council election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/arm/news/383700.html|title=Երեւանի ավագանու ընտրություններ. "Երկիր Ծիրանի" կուսակցության առաջին տասնյակը հայտնի է|website=news.am|date=7 June 2023 }}</ref> The party received 7.75% of the vote, gaining 5 seats in the [[Yerevan City Council]].

The party also participated in the [[2018 Yerevan City Council election]], but lost all 5 seats in the Yerevan City Council following the election, gaining just 1.39% of the vote.

The party has not participated in any national elections. Prior to the [[2018 Armenian parliamentary election]], the party declined to participate and boycotted the election, due to concerns over [[electoral fraud]] and [[corruption]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=36636&lang=3&__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=4f8d07f409f1ac8d4042225bb429ed9324920878-1603312934-0-AYBwIlFkQejLILNGj7jT5pRDDmILK5YCnzsBUDrAzykDwB9jb1ikQ5SkHUPYOWWznNY29XgDETNCbSpQdo7UDmqNCXO4FLDZjxgkGyz12aw_Huj2dLZ9-J7Q5qTbZ_JHHNrt9Fc18SLebzv_Ke9BTWxGm0K_Beyp9SlY_vX4FqAHTSoud9eOYQxwsgCz6a8YF1fvpBPeABVNybneYVcJ4pcO5Ui365a_b3iw914hbyYRzHvcCcPS07gBQgMpBKArhxHTcjUKiCQDL7_NxN774YGt71bTNmwmjW6dQEzFo4oSMhJA9SSHn4GrTHjcyn5yc_wJUvodQ595Zj32_h9v77z5y3lwhAE9T-uynrcUKT-1XB-JTYFvCRKOgdG0QWj2og | title=Arminfo: ''Yerkir Tsirani '' party is boycotting early parliamentary elections }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aravot-en.am/2017/05/04/194087/|title=Zaruhi Postanjyan to sue "Gallup"|website=www.aravot-en.am}}</ref> The party did not participate in the [[2021 Armenian parliamentary election]]s.

Prior to the [[2023 Yerevan City Council election]], the party announced it would join the [[Mother Armenia Alliance]]. Following the election, the alliance won 12 seats in the Yerevan City Council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://evnreport.com/magazine-issues/in-yerevans-mayoral-election-coming-in-first-wont-be-enough/|title=In Yerevan's Mayoral Election, Coming In First Won't Be Enough|date=September 14, 2023}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Politics}} * [[Politics of Armenia]] * [[Programs of political parties in Armenia]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.facebook.com/yerkirtsiraniparty/ Country of Apricots Party on Facebook]

[[Category:2017 establishments in Armenia]] [[Category:Political parties established in 2017]] [[Category:Pro-European political parties in Armenia]]