YEREVAN. – The latest events revealed that Armenian President and head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan has confused political activity with the profession of a magician, off-parliament opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) activist, editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper Nikol Pashinyan said during the ANC rally. Pashinyan is running for an MP seat in No. 7 Election District.
He claims Sargsyan is a magician as he had stated months ago to differentiate between politics and business and not to include businessmen in the RPA election list. However, he broke his promise as the list currently includes such names as Nemets Rubo (Ruben Hayrapetyan), Lfik Samo (Samvel Alexanyan) and Muk (Hovik Abrahamyan). And eventually he calls on to believe in order to change (RPA’s motto is “Let us believe to change!”).
Besides, Pashinyan reminded that he had invited RPA MP candidate on majoritarian system Alexanyan for a TV debate. The latter seems to suffer a chronic illness as he used to have lots of absences in the parliament, Pashinyan added.
Armenian National Congress (ANC) is an opposition bloc founded in 2008 after presidential elections. During the August 1, 2008, rally in Yerevan the first President of Armenia and ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan announced formation of the bloc. ANC comprises 18 parties and political forces.
ANC proportional list includes 119 names. It has also nominated MP candidates with the majority election system.
The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is a ruling conservative party in Armenia founded on 2 April, 1990, and registered on 14 May, 1991, being the first officially registered socio-political organization in the independent Republic of Armenia.
The founder of the party was Ashot Navasardyan. After his death the party was headed by former Armenian prime minister, very influential political figure, Vazgen Sargsyan, who was killed in 1999 terrorist attack in the parliament. He was replaced by another Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan. After Margaryan’s death, the incumbent Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan took the office of the chairman of RPA board.
Since 2003, the Republican Party is a core member of the ruling coalition along with the Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir parties. RPA has majority of seats in the Armenian parliament since 2003.
The Republican Party of Armenia will run in the parliamentary elections under its new slogan: “Let us believe to change!” The Party’s proportional list includes 253 names.
RPA has also nominated MP candidates with the majority election system in 33 electoral districts.
