TSAKHKADZOR. – Being included in the election lists still does not mean participating in the elections, Armenian President and leader of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan announced at a meeting with students in Tsakhkadzor on Monday.

One of the students asked how it happens that people leave for work outside Armenia but their names are still on the election lists. Serzh Sargsyan mentioned that absence from the country is not a reason to exclude people from election lists.

“Being included in the election lists does not mean participating in elections. We have made unprecedented steps to create an atmosphere of trust: we posted the lists on the internet. The lists are available for everyone inside and outside of Armenia. Those who have doubts can make suggestions, help improve them so that we can have proper lists on the eve of the elections,” Sargsyan mentioned.

According to the president the electoral law has been changed in a way that if not everyone is satisfied with the electoral procedures nothing will take place.

According to him everything has been done to create an atmosphere of trust and it is normal that the number of voters increases.

“If people come back and want to participate in the elections what shall we tell them? Shall we say, you cannot participate in the elections because you have been outside of the country? We say we want to do everything according to the law but then shall we go to illegal steps just in order to satisfy some people? I think it is wrong and we must do everything according to law,” the president mentioned.

The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is a ruling conservative party in Armenia founded on 2 April, 1990, and registered on 14 May, 1991, being the first officially registered socio-political organization in the independent Republic of Armenia.

The founder of the party was Ashot Navasardyan. After his death the party was headed by former Armenian prime minister, very influential political figure, Vazgen Sargsyan, who was killed in 1999 terrorist attack in the parliament. He was replaced by another Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan. After Margaryan’s death, the incumbent Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan took the office of the chairman of RPA board.

Since 2003, the Republican Party is a core member of the ruling coalition along with the Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir parties. RPA has majority of seats in the Armenian parliament since 2003.

The Republican Party of Armenia will run in the parliamentary elections under its new slogan: “Let us believe to change!” The Party’s proportional list includes 253 names.

RPA has also nominated MP candidates with the majority election system in 33 electoral districts.