YEREVAN. – The political process in Armenia can proceed solely pursuant to the Constitution, National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker, ruling Republican Party Press Secretary, Eduard Sharmazanov told news reporters at NA on Tuesday. 

In response to the query as to the measures the authorities need to take so as to reduce the current domestic political tension in the country in connection with the recent presidential election, Sharmazanov noted as follows:   

“We respect all those citizens who did not vote for our candidate [that is, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan]. The winning political force receives 55-56 percent of the ballots of the voters in any democratic country. [But,] at the same time, we do not deny the existence of some problems.”

Responding to the question as to when will come a time when there will be no problems in the country, Sharmazanov noted that there are no such countries and the perfect world, which Plato had spoken about, is a mere utopia.        

Reflecting on the current course of action by opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian—who is declared runner-up, with 36.75 percent of the votes, to the winner, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential election on February 18, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote—, the parliament vice-chair noted that although he respects Hovannisian very much, the path the latter has chosen is incomprehensible for him.    

“At [capital city Yerevan’s] Liberty Square, he announced that he garnered 80 percent of the vote. En route to 26 Baghramyan [Avenue, where the Presidential Residence is located, to meet with Sargsyan], he announced about a [presidential] runoff. And coming out of 26 Baghramyan, [he announced about] a new parliamentary election. Our country is not a place for ‘concerts upon order.’ Everyone must abide by the Constitution,” Eduard Sharmazanov concluded.