YEREVAN. – The change in power has already occurred in Armenia. That the authorities won in all those polling precincts with a large voter turnout, during Monday’s presidential election, speaks for the fact that this occurred as a result of multiple voting and ballot stuffing, opposition Heritage Party Board Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan said during a press conference on Friday.      

He noted that it would be a very positive phenomenon when not only the defeated candidate congratulates the winner, but also when the authorities accept their defeat. He added that the incumbent president could hand over power, a new parliamentary election could be held, a ruling coalition could be established, and a new government could be formed.       

“President Raffi Hovannisian [Heritage’s leader, who became the runner-up to the winner, incumbent President Sargsyan, in Monday’s presidential election, but he claims to be the real winner in the vote] will head the new government, [and] the PM will be someone else,” Martirosyan noted, and stressed that, with Hovannisian’s presidency, a new political situation will be created in the country.  

In his words, Serzh Sargsyan will remain at the helm of power only if their movement does not succeed.

To the query as to whether his outlook is a bit idealistic, Armen Martirosyan responded by saying that it was always the idealists who changed life, and it is better to bring such idealistic approach to fruition rather than a realistic one. He added that they are waging a struggle in the name of Armenia.          

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am