I believe that the conditions are favorable for forming large pre-election blocs, Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, told a press conference Thursday—and with respect to the country’s parliamentary elections slated for June.

Recalling that about 25 political forces ran in the previous elections in Armenia, he said: "Now there is a possibility that eight to ten will run, no more. I see a possibility that the opposition field can go to the elections with three, maximum four large blocs."

"As for the ‘Armenia’ bloc, we do not have a final decision yet, but we are inclined to go in the same format. Last time we announced that we would make a decision in February, we still have time,” Kocharyan added.

“What I said before was more about those parties that may have a problem overcoming the [minimum] threshold [to win seats in parliament], and in order not to have the image of the dispersion of votes during the previous elections, there are favorable conditions for forming large blocs. I would like to have three to four such blocs. I have information that they are negotiating, but my impression is that the picture will be more favorable for the opposition in these elections. Not 25 points, of which 20-21 are from the opposition field,” said Armenia’s second president.

Turning to the question of who will lead their bloc, Robert Kocharyan said that they will conduct a respective survey in early February, and based on it, they will decide who will be the leader.

“If the sociological survey shows that I am the one who gets the most votes, then I will remain. If someone appears in our bloc who can secure more votes, then it will be him. I would be very happy if it were not me, I would be relieved of a very big burden. I would consider running away from the struggle in this situation as desertion,” he added.

“The sociological surveys published in the media today show that yes, I am the most likely candidate to head the [electoral] list [of ‘Armenia’ bloc]. As of today, that is the case. But in order to make a final decision, I need to understand for myself how effective this will be for the entire team. We are going into the elections from better positions than it was in 2021,” said Armenia’s second president, and added that they will order this survey to a professional sociological company.

Kocharyan noted, however, that there will be some updating of their electoral list.

“Life also showed that it needs to be done. We have an actively formed team, but there will undoubtedly be new people also on the [electoral] list and in the team," said Armenia's second president.