YEREVAN. – As a result of the recent processes, as well as with their announcements of running in the [forthcoming snap parliamentary] elections, all the representatives of the previous government are strengthening [acting PM] Nikol Pashinyan and his government. Edmon Marukyan, chairman of the opposition Bright Armenia Party and head of its faction in the National Assembly (NA), on Monday told this to reporters in the NA.

"If they [the former authorities] step aside, this government will lose. Nikol Pashinyan has the following electorate: He has a 15% vote which is his voters, the remaining 15-20% are not his voters; they vote [for him] so that the former ones don’t come [back to power]. But had they not want to come [back to power] and been so active, this process would not have happened. Now if Nikol Pashinyan is re-elected, he can say ‘thanks’ to the former authorities," he said.

According to Marukyan, the agenda of the change of power in Armenia is failing as a result of the actions of these former forces. "They know very well that as a result of their activeness, our people will vote more for the [incumbent] government so that they [the former authorities] do not come [back to power]," he added.