YEREVAN. – Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian—who was declared runner-up to the winner, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential election that was conducted on February 18, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote—either will have to not recognize the election results and continue his fight on the street, or recognize the results and try to consolidate the opposition. Coalition government’s junior partner, Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Party Chairman, and National Security Council Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan said this during a press conference on Saturday.

In his view, the third option is cooperation with the authorities.

“You cannot be opposition and government at the same time,” Baghdasaryan stated, and stressed that educated and knowledgeable people must govern in all domains.

“Also, the face of the authorities needs to change from the worn out and stagnant personnel within the authorities. We are also confident that the reelected President will set up these changes after the swearing-in ceremony [of his on April 9],” Arthur Baghdasaryan added.      

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am