A controversial proposal to create a so-called Ministry of Sex has sparked outrage in Armenia, as politicians and academics accuse an opposition party of sexism and political provocation ahead of June’s general election.
The idea was floated by Strong Armenia, an anti-establishment party currently polling second behind the ruling Civil Contract Party, as part of its strategy to address the country’s declining birth rate.
Armenia, a former Soviet state in the Caucasus region, has struggled for years with falling fertility levels, a challenge shared by several Eastern European and post-Soviet nations. However, the proposal has been widely condemned for its language and framing.
Strong Armenia leader Sargis Karapetyan claimed that increased political activism among middle-aged women was linked to dissatisfaction in their private lives, arguing that state intervention could help stabilise population growth.
“Can we now actually say that in a strong Armenia there will be no unsatisfied women?” Karapetyan asked during an appearance on the Triangle podcast. He suggested that government involvement could improve national demographics but offered no clear outline of how such a ministry would function.
The comments triggered swift backlash across Armenia’s political spectrum. A lawmaker from the ruling Civil Contract Party described the remarks as “pure sexism”, accusing Karapetyan of stripping women of agency and reducing them to crude stereotypes.
Academics and civil society voices also criticised the proposal. Feminist activist Lucy Kocharyan accused the party of exploiting women for electoral gain, warning against turning intimate issues into campaign slogans.
“Don’t wrap your pre-election campaign’s sexual lust around the women of Armenia,” she wrote on social media.
As criticism mounted, Karapetyan later claimed his remarks had been taken out of context, though the controversy continues to dominate political debate as the election draws closer.
With opinion polls showing just a narrow gap between the leading parties, analysts say the episode highlights rising tensions and deep divisions over gender, governance and population policy in Armenia.
