YEREVAN. – President of Armenia, head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan delivered a speech in the summing up rally in the Republic Square on Friday.

“The election campaign coming to an end testifies that we have left behind those days, when political competition was through fight. We should take care for the well-being, security and eternity of our people, and no one else. We compete in the political field, however, the statehood and national priorities are out of competition. You will make your choice on Sunday. The vote of each of you is important and it will be decisive. This election campaign will be peculiar on its culture of political competition and relations,” the statement reads.

To note, gas balloons exploded during the rally, as a result, over 100 people were injured and hospitalized.

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.