Outrage Mounts Over ‘Ministry of Sex’ Proposal Ahead of General Election

Outrage Mounts Over ‘Ministry of Sex’ Proposal Ahead of General Election

A controversial proposal to establish a Ministry of Sex has triggered widespread outrage and intense public debate in Armenia, just months ahead of the country’s general election.

The idea was floated by a senior figure in the opposition Strong Armenia party, who argued that the proposed ministry would address the country’s declining birth rate and what he described as growing dissatisfaction among women. The comments, made during a media interview, quickly went viral and drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

Critics accused the opposition figure of promoting sexist and demeaning stereotypes, arguing that the proposal reduces complex social and economic challenges to issues of sexual fulfilment. Women’s rights groups, civil society organisations, and academics condemned the idea, describing it as offensive, unserious, and unfit for public policy discussion.

Members of the ruling party also weighed in, describing the proposal as a political gimmick designed to attract attention ahead of the election rather than offer meaningful solutions to Armenia’s demographic challenges. Several lawmakers stressed that issues such as population decline should be tackled through economic reforms, improved healthcare, childcare support, and gender-inclusive policies — not provocative rhetoric.

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On social media, the backlash was swift and fierce. Many users accused the opposition party of objectifying women and trivialising national issues for political gain. Hashtags criticising the Ministry of Sex proposal trended locally, with commentators warning that such remarks could alienate voters, particularly women and young people.

In response to the outrage, the opposition figure attempted to walk back his remarks, claiming they were taken out of context. However, analysts say the damage may already be done, as the controversy has come to symbolise broader concerns about gender politics, leadership quality, and campaign conduct ahead of the vote.

As Armenia moves closer to the general election, the episode has intensified scrutiny of political messaging and raised fresh questions about how far parties are willing to go to dominate the public conversation.

Outrage Mounts Over ‘Ministry of Sex’ Proposal Ahead of General Election