On December 5, 2021, Armenia will be holding the most important municipal election in its 30 years since independence. It is the third and largest installment of a series of three municipal election dates in the autumn of 2021; the first two were on October 17 and November 14. In the wake of the early parliamentary election on June 20, 2021, these municipal races serve as a kind of second round to provide greater insight into Armenia’s ever-changing political landscape.
Over a million Armenian citizens from nine different regions will have the opportunity to cast their vote on December 5, in 38 separate election races that were triggered as a result of a municipal amalgamation initiative. The amalgamation reduced the number of municipalities in Armenia from 502 to 79, joining smaller villages under the same administration as their nearest city. The new units roughly correspond to the regional administrations used during Soviet times and targeted a minimum size of 4,000 registered voters (citizens over 18 years old), so that they would use the proportional electoral system for municipal elections in accordance with recent changes to the Electoral Code. Exceptions were made for the following villages, which have a high proportion of ethnic minority residents:
- Alagyaz, Aragatsotn (Yezidi and Kurdish)
- Arevut, Aragatsotn (Yezidi)
- Arzni, Kotayk (Assyrian)
- Ferik, Armavir (Yezidi)
- Fioletovo, Lori (Molokan Russian)
- Lermontovo, Lori (Molokan Russian)
- Metsadzor, Aragatsotn (Yezidi)
- Shamiram, Aragatsotn (Yezidi)
- Verin Dvin, Ararat (Assyrian)
The reason these municipal elections are so important is that they mark the expansion of the proportional electoral system beyond Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. Yerevan held its first proportional city council election in May 2009; prior to that, the mayor of Yerevan was appointed by the central government, the way regional governors beyond the capital are still chosen now. Gyumri and Vanadzor held their first proportional race in October 2016, when skews in electoral rules led to boycotts and instability after the election. In a proportional race, political parties present a list of city council candidates and are awarded a certain number of seats in accordance with their share of the vote. The city council members then choose the mayor.
In the rest of the country, until now, mayors had been elected directly. Mayoral candidates were very often independents or members of the then-ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). It was very rare for opposition parties to sink resources into a municipal race. Now that the campaign is centered around political parties, however, it is no longer an individual effort. Instead, there is a new strong incentive for political parties to build out their regional organizations, recruit and train candidates, test out their platform messaging, and exercise their fundraising muscle.
Party Alignments
Armenia currently has 113 registered political parties, 28 of which were established in 2021. Only a few of them are active, however, especially outside Yerevan. The timeline to take part in the December 5 municipal elections was extremely tight. The draft proposal for the amalgamation process was circulated for public comment in two pieces on August 19 and 20, 2021. On September 24, a slightly altered version presented in Bill G-017 passed both required readings in the National Assembly on the same day. The President signed it into law on October 4, right before the minimum 60-day notice needed ahead of the December 5 date (which had already been declared in anticipation on August 26). In order to participate, political parties had to have their candidate rosters and registration paperwork submitted by October 31.
Ideally, every party would be organized and resourced enough to run in every city, in order to be considered a full-fledged national party. No single party was able to accomplish that, however. The ruling Civil Contract Party came closest, running in 35 of the 36 proportional city council races, all except Sevan. The party was dominant throughout the country in the June parliamentary election. In each of the 35 cities they are participating, it will be important to watch whether the Civil Contract Party:
1. Receives more than 50% of the votes and/or city council seats, allowing them to select the mayor without a coalition deal with others. This has happened in four of the nine municipal races so far in October and November, in Dilijan, Tegh, Ijevan and Stepanavan.
2. Comes in first place, but without a majority of the seats. This happened in October in Tatev, where the Shant Alliance and Country To Live Party formed a coalition that excluded the Civil Contract Party.
3. Comes in second place, with another party gaining a majority. This happened in Goris and Kapan in October and November, respectively.
4. Comes in second place, with no party achieving a majority. This happened in October in Gyumri, where the Civil Contract Party formed a coalition with the first-place Balasanyan Alliance Socialist Party. It was also the case in Meghri, where the first-place Republic Party formed an alliance with the Liberal Party that excluded the Civil Contract Party.
5. Comes in third place or lower. This would be considered a political earthquake. In all of the nine proportional races in October or November, the Civil Contract Party came in first or second.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) is the party with the second-widest coverage on December 5. In 10 cities, they are running under their own banner. In an additional eight, they are leading an alliance under names that don’t clearly identify the political parties that have formed them, such as Our Community Alliance, United Vardenis Alliance or Etchmiadzin Alliance. They also have a handful of candidates running on other parties’ tickets, especially the newly-formed My Powerful Community Party. In total, they have at least one candidate running in 23 of the 36 proportional races on December 5. This level of participation was important to maintain their standing as the pre-eminent opposition party (they are the senior partner of the largest parliamentary opposition faction). Among the nine proportional municipal races on October 17 and November 14, they had only participated in Ijevan (where they took 16% of the vote) and had one candidate on the Arush Arushanyan Alliance list in Goris, Artak Torozyan, who did get elected.
The ARF can be said to lead a grouping of opposition parties that roughly align with the 16 political parties that called for the resignation of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in the aftermath of the 2020 Artsakh War. The grouping also includes the Resurgent Armenia Party, Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Homeland Party, Solidarity Party, Country of Apricots Party, My Powerful Community Party, Reformists’ Party, Armenian Eagles United Armenia Party, One Armenia Party and Democracy and Labor Party. Let’s call them the Homeland Salvation Movement (HSM) Grouping. In some municipal races, these parties have come together under electoral alliances; in others, they are competing on their own but can be considered potential post-election coalition partners.
Although the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) originally also joined the anti-Pashinyan protests, they are a special case and operate much more independently. They are running their own candidate list in Abovyan (which now includes Arinj, Gagik Tsarukyan’s hometown), Vanadzor, Pambak and Ashotsk. In Yeghegnadzor, they are leading the Davit Harutyunyan Alliance, together with the Democratic Alternative Party. In Ararat, they have two candidates on the Stability Party list. Only in Akhuryan do they have candidates running on a candidate list with HSM Grouping parties, the Akhuryan Alliance.
Two other parties are running in 10 cities each, earning them recognition as the next tier of organized players. They are the Country To Live Party and the Republic Party. Both have a history of cooperation with the Civil Contract Party, but have since parted ways. The Republic Party was part of the Way Out Alliance in 2017, while the Country To Live Party’s two cofounders are both former Labor and Social Affairs Ministers under Nikol Pashinyan, who later resigned. Though it declares itself a new party, according to its official corporate registration number, the Country To Live Party is the successor of the Mission Party, which used to be the junior member of the My Step Alliance with the Civil Contract Party.
The Bright Armenia Party (BAP) lost all of its 18 parliamentary seats and access to public funding, after they received only 1.2% of the vote in the June 2021 parliamentary election. Parties that receive at least 2% of the vote are eligible for an annual subsidy from the state budget. After skipping the October 17 and November 14 rounds of municipal elections, the BAP is running candidates in four different cities on December 5: Vanadzor, Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Hrazdan and Martuni. Unfortunately for them, all four of these cities have more than three parties running, with Vanadzor having the most at 10. For perspective, 20 of the 36 proportional races on December 5 have three or less parties running, in which case the minimum 4% threshold does not apply. But the BAP has chosen to take part in more competitive cities. In the June 20 parliamentary election, the party took only 3.7% of the vote in Vanadzor, 0.8% in Vagharshapat, 1.4% in Hrazdan, and 0.5% in Martuni. (These figures are for the core city, before amalgamation.) Notably, they are not running in Noyemberyan, where they had received 4.3% in June. It is important for the future of the party to gain representation on these city councils. A lower overall turnout might help them achieve that.
Other parties running in multiple cities include the For the Republic Defenders of Democracy Alliance Party, the Citizens’ Decision Social-Democratic Party, the Fair Armenia Party, the Awakening National Christian Party, the Liberal Party and the Alliance Progressive Centrist Party. This grouping, let’s call them the June Grouping, participated in the June parliamentary election but failed to meet the minimum threshold for seats (5%) or even for public funding (2%). Winning some city council seats will help them remain active.
There are also a few parties that formed even later in 2021 and are participating in an election for the very first time. Let’s call them the First Appearance Grouping.
Noticeably absent is Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s Armenian National Congress (ANC). Once a significant opposition party in the country, they received only 1.5% of the vote in June. They participated in the municipal elections in Goris in October and Stepanavan in November, receiving 2.8% and 4.4% respectively, winning one seat on each city council. Few Armenian political parties have been able to pass the leadership baton from their founding leader to a new successor. In the ANC’s case, an inability to move beyond the shadow of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and the baggage associated with his term in office, may be one factor that limits their public appeal. Other political parties would be wise to learn that lesson earlier.
The full list of registered parties and alliances, ordered by city size and ballot order, is as follows:
Vanadzor, Lori (93,836 registered voters, 33 city council seats)
1. Armenian Labor Socialist Party
2. Alliance Progressive Centrist Party (June Grouping)
3. Civil Contract Party
4. Republic Party
5. Country To Live Party
6. Bright Armenia Party
7. Homeland Party (HSM Grouping)
8. Prosperous Armenia Party
9. Mamikon Aslanyan Alliance
- My Powerful Community Party (HSM Grouping)
- Free Democrats Party
10. Communist Party of Armenia
Incumbent Mayor Mamikon Aslanyan had won in 2016, representing the Republican Party of Armenia. His main competition will be from the Civil Contract Party, whose list is headed by Lori regional governor Aram Khachatryan. The regional governor position is appointed by the central government. The match-up parallels the recent race in Gyumri in October. There as well, the Civil Contract-appointed regional governor, Hovhannes Harutyunyan, was up against a team that bore the name of the incumbent elected in 2016 (the Balasanyan Alliance Socialist Party). In Gyumri, Harutyunyan came in second, turned down his city council seat, and was later replaced by a new regional governor, MP Nazeli Baghdasaryan. That precedent sets the stakes quite high for Khachatryan.
Arkadi Peleshyan leads the ticket for the Armenian Labor Socialist Party. In 2016, he led the ticket for the Armenian Renaissance Party (a rebranding of the Country of Law Party) and is a current city councillor. He did not attend the public televised debate on December 2; neither did the Alliance Progressive Centrist Party.
Artashat, Ararat (77,589 registered voters, 33 city council seats)
1. Law and Justice Party (First Appearance Grouping)
2. Alliance Progressive Centrist Party (June Grouping)
3. Homeland Party (HSM Grouping)
4. Christian Armenia Party (First Appearance Grouping)
5. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
6. Civil Contract Party
After the recent amalgamation, Artashat became the fourth-largest municipality in Armenia. In surpassing the 70,000 registered voter mark, it enters the same category as Gyumri and Vanadzor, with an allocation of 33 city council seats and a televised election campaign debate, which was held on November 30. Unfortunately, only the Civil Contract Party and Christian Armenia Party participated in the debate. Recent changes to the Electoral Code require the Public TV channel to host a municipal election debate for all cities with over 70,000 registered voters; the top candidates from all the competing parties must be invited but can’t be forced to come.
Masis, Ararat (62,917 registered voters, 27 ավագանի մանդատ)
1. Davit Hambardzumyan Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Reformists’ Party
- My Powerful Community Party
- Republican Party of Armenia
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Armenian Eagles United Armenia Party
- One Armenia Party
2. Civil Contract Party
Masis is the largest city that only has two parties running. When this is the case, the party that comes in first is guaranteed a majority, as city councils always have an odd number of seats.
Abovyan, Kotayk (60,559 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Prosperous Armenia Party
2. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
3. Republic Party
4. Civil Contract Party
Abovyan is considered a commuter suburb of Yerevan. After amalgamation, it now includes the community of Arinj, which is the home of Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader Gagik Tsarukyan. Abovyan specifically, and Kotayk region more generally, was historically considered a PAP stronghold; although the Civil Contract Party took 44% of the vote here in June, compared to PAP’s 10%. In the city’s 2019 mayoral race, Vahagn Gevorgyan narrowly beat Civil Contract favorite Grigor Gulyan. Gevorgyan is not running this time.
Martuni, Gegharkunik (60,482 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Alashkert Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Republican Party of Armenia
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
2. Country To Live Party
3. Fair Armenia Party (June Grouping)
4. Bright Armenia Party
5. Communist Party of Armenia
6. Civil Contract Party
Metsamor, Armavir (54,607 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
2. Civil Contract Party
Ashtarak, Aragatsotn (53,979 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
2. Homeland Party (HSM Grouping)
3. Civil Contract Party
The 4% electoral threshold does not apply to the top three parties; thus, all three contenders can expect to gain seats.
Hrazdan, Kotayk (46,441 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Country to Live Party
2. Bright Armenia Party
3. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
4. Civil Contract Party
Armavir, Armavir (45,295 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Civil Contract Party
Armavir was the only city where only one party registered. Voters will still get a chance to cast a ballot, either for or against the Civil Contract Party. If there are more Yes votes than No votes, all 27 seats go to the Civil Contract Party, with no opposition on the city council. If, however, the number of No votes is higher, a new election will have to be held. There is no minimum turnout requirement.
Vagharshapat, Armavir (44,653 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Etchmiadzin Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Solidarity Party
2. Real Democratic Party (First Appearance Grouping)
3. Bright Armenia Party
4. Patriot Party (First Appearance Grouping)
5. Civil Contract Party
Vagharshapat, also known as Etchmiadzin, is the only urban center in Armenia with a female mayor. Diana Gasparyan, representing the Civil Contract Party, was elected here in 2018, among 12 candidates, receiving 52% of the vote. She once again leads the Civil Contract ticket.
The Patriot Party is the new name of the National State Party, which participated in elections before but with limited success.
Gavar, Gegharkunik (44,216 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Gurgen Martirosyan Alliance (June Grouping)
- Citizens’ Decision Social-Democratic Party
- Justice Party
2. Our Community Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Solidarity Party
- Homeland Party
- Republican Party of Armenia
3. Civil Contract Party
Vedi, Ararat (36,928 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. My Powerful Community Party (HSM Grouping)
- Republican Party of Armenia
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
2. Republic Party
3. Civil Contract Party
Artik, Shirak (36,894 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Liberal Party (June Grouping)
2. Country to Live Party
3. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
4. For the Republic Defenders of Democracy Alliance Party (June Grouping)
5. United Artik Alliance (June Grouping)
- Citizens’ Decision Social-Democratic Party
- Justice Party
6. Civil Contract Party
The Republic Party had also submitted a roster of candidates in Artik; however, it was rejected. There is a requirement that candidate lists include at least one person from at least half of the districts within an amalgamated city. The newly-amalgamated Artik now has 24 districts. The Republic Party had submitted a roster that included candidates from 12 different districts, but one of them was not officially registered at the address where she was living. (It is common for Armenian citizens not to change their officially-registered address every time they move.) In consequence, the entire candidate list was deemed ineligible for failing to meet the requirements of the Electoral Code.
Akhuryan, Shirak (31,807 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Akhuryan Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Solidarity Party
- Country of Apricots Party
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Prosperous Armenia Party
2. Victory Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Resurgent Armenia Party
- Civil Contract Party
Akhuryan has 35 districts; thus, each party must include a minimum of one candidate from at least 18 of them. There was one more participant, the Ikilikyan Alliance, consisting of the My Powerful Community Party and the Freedom Party (HSM Grouping), that was actually registered and assigned ballot order #2. However, it became apparent later that they only had candidates from 14 different districts. Their registration in the election was revoked, but the ballot order number of the other parties was not reset (to avoid confusion if they had already started campaigning using their ballot number). The decision to reject their registration was appealed in court but without success.
The result is unfortunate because the purpose of the requirement to include candidates from different districts is to ensure that the lists are not dominated by candidates from the main city center; there was a fear that outlying villages might no longer have elected representatives after amalgamation. The fact is, however, that 25 of the 26 candidates on the Ikilikyan Alliance list were from outside the city center. The list was headed by Vardan Ikilikyan, the incumbent mayor of Azatan village, which has just been amalgamated into Akhuryan.
According to the Electoral Code, a political party is not allowed to present two candidate lists or enter more than one electoral alliance. Officially, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation is only a member of the Victory Alliance. However, the mayoral candidate of the Akhuryan Alliance is also an ARF member, incumbent Akhuryan mayor Artsruni Igityan. Officially, the Akhuryan Alliance is only between the Solidarity Party and the Country of Apricots Party, but the Electoral Code allows them to have up to 30% of their candidates not hold a party membership. Usually, this used to include independents, but it is technically possible to also include members of other political parties, as happened here.
Sevan, Gegharkunik (30,833 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
2. Republic Party
3. Sargis Muradyan Alliance
- Ramkavar Liberal Party
- Reformed Social-Democratic Hunchakian Party
- Republican Party of Armenia
Sevan is the only proportional race in which the Civil Contract Party is not running.
According to the Electoral Code, a candidate list must adhere to a 1-in-3 gender quota. In Sevan, however, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation presented a 20-person list that did adhere to the gender quota, but then every single one of their female candidates withdrew, leaving a candidate list that is 100% male. The Electoral Code does account for withdrawals by requiring skipping down to the next highest-ranked woman candidate to fill vacancies in order to ensure a caucus that is at least 30% female. However, if there are no more available women candidates, the vacancies are filled by men, despite the quota. To counteract this type of loophole, the Electoral Code should be amended to leave seats vacant if a party cannot meet the gender quota due to female candidates withdrawing their nominations.
Spitak, Lori (30,689 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. My Powerful Community Party (HSM Grouping)
- Republican Party of Armenia
2. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
3. Homeland Party (HSM Grouping)
4. Civil Contract Party
Ararat, Ararat (29,517 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Country to Live Party
2. My Powerful Community Party (HSM Grouping)
3. Stability Party (First Appearance Grouping)
- Prosperous Armenia Party
4. For the Republic Defenders of Democracy Alliance Party (June Grouping)
5. Civil Contract Party
Vardenis, Gegharkunik (28,557 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Aharon Khachatryan Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Solidarity Party
- Democratic Alternative Party
2. United Vardenis Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Democracy and Labor Party
3. Civil Contract Party
Nairi, Kotayk (27,899 registered voters, 27 city council seats)
1. Country to Live Party
2. My Powerful Community Party (HSM Grouping)
3. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
4. Republic Party
5. Reformed Social Democratic Hunchakian Party
6. Civil Contract Party
Noyemberyan, Tavush (24,318 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Country to Live Party
2. For the Republic Defenders of Democracy Alliance Party (June Grouping)
3. Civil Contract Party
Khoy, Armavir (22,091 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Liberal Party (June Grouping)
2. Awakening National Christian Party (June Grouping)
3. Civil Contract Party
Nor Hachn, Kotayk (22,024 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Gagik Matevosyan Alliance (June Grouping)
- Christian Democratic Party
- Reformed Social Democratic Hunchakian Party
2. Democratic Alternative Party (HSM Grouping)
3. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (HSM Grouping)
4. Vardan Papyan Alliance (June Grouping)
- Fair Armenia Party
- Justice Party
5. Civil Contract Party
Talin, Aragatsotn (19,810 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Awakening National Christian Party (June Grouping)
2. Hayk Liberal Party
3. Our Community Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Solidarity Party
4. Civil Contract Party
Araks, Armavir (19,765 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Awakening National Christian Party (June Grouping)
2. For the Republic Defenders of Democracy Alliance Party (June Grouping)
3. Civil Contract Party
Parakar, Armavir (19,431 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Country to Live Party
2. Davit Minasyan Alliance (June Grouping)
- Citizens’ Decision Social-Democratic Party
- Justice Party
3. Civil Contract Party
Aparan, Aragatsotn (17,616 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Karen Yeghiazaryan Alliance (June Grouping)
- Christian Armenia Party
- Fair Armenia Party
2. Civil Contract Party
Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor (14,795 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Country to Live Party
2. Davit Harutyunyan Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Prosperous Armenia Party
- Democratic Alternative Party
3. Armenian Constructive Party (June Grouping)
4. Republic Party
5. Civil Contract Party
Baghramyan, Armavir (12,495 registered voters, 21 city council seats)
1. Fair Armenia Party (June Grouping)
2. Our Baghramyan Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Solidarity Party
3. Civil Contract Party
Vayk, Vayots Dzor (9,837 registered voters, 15 city council seats)
1. Liberal Party (June Grouping)
2. Homeland Party (HSM Grouping)
3. Republic Party
4. Civil Contract Party
Pambak, Lori (9,571 registered voters, 15 city council seats)
1. Prosperous Armenia Party
2. Civil Contract Party
Garni, Kotayk (9,196 registered voters, 15 city council seats)
1. Republic Party
2. Civil Contract Party
Ashotsk, Shirak (7,528 registered voters, 15 city council seats)
1. Prosperous Armenia Party
2. Civil Contract Party
Jermuk, Vayots Dzor (6,204 registered voters, 15 city council seats)
1. Country to Live Party
2. Our Community Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Solidarity Party
3. Civil Contract Party
The Jermuk city council race will be important to watch as it could have repercussions on the future operation of the nearby Amulsar Gold Mine. Protests have prevented the mine from starting operations. Nikol Pashinyan has alluded that he supports the project going forward, but it has remained in deadlock to date.
Among the 130 party lists in the 36 municipal races on December 5, only three are led by women. One of them is the Country to Live Party ticket in Jermuk, led by Syuzanna Avetisyan. Notably, however, 7 of the 12 candidates on the Country to Live list have withdrawn from the race, leaving only five remaining. In October, in Tegh, the Country to Live Party had complained that nine of their candidates withdrew after pressure and threats. It is not yet clear if that has also taken place in Jermuk.
Amasia, Shirak (5,696 registered voters, 15 city council seats)
1. Amasia-Arpi Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Solidarity Party
- Freedom Party
2. Republican Party of Armenia (HSM Grouping)
3. Civil Contract Party
The Amasia-Arpi Alliance ticket is the third one to be led by a woman, the incumbent mayor of the pre-amalgamation village of Amasia, Jemma Harutyunyan. Harutyunyan had previously been elected as a member of the Republican Party of Armenia. This time, her political affiliation is identified as “Independent”.
Tsakhkadzor, Kotayk (5,206 registered voters, 15 city council seats)
1. Our Community Alliance (HSM Grouping)
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Solidarity Party
2. Civil Contract Party
Tumanyan, Lori (4,889 registered voters, 15 city council seats)
1. Republic Party
2. Civil Contract Party