YEREVAN. – From the nine political parties and blocs that are running for parliament, the main competition is between the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), and Tsarukyan Bloc [which is led by opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Chairman and businessman MP, Gagik Tsarukyan].

Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) General Director Valery Fedorov on Tuesday noted about the above-said at a press conference in capital city Yerevan, as he presented the results of the latest survey which VCIOM conducted in Armenia, and during the campaign season ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election in the country.

Fedorov said, as compared with the first survey which VCIOM had conducted before the election campaign season, the RPA’s rating has risen by 2 percent totaling 21 percent, and it nearly equaled Tsarukyan Bloc’s rating of 22 percent, which, however, is down 4 percent, as compared with the previous survey. 

At the same time, as per the VCIOM director, the RPA is the leader in the rating of regional representation MP candidates and parties, and it is ahead of Tsarukyan Bloc by 8 percent. Accordingly, the RPA and Tsarukyan Bloc have 44 and 36 percent respective votes, correspondingly, among the decided constituents. 

According to the latest VCIOM survey, aside from these two political forces, Yelk (Way Out) Bloc (6%), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party (5%), and the Armenian Revival Party (4%) also may win seats in the National Assembly.

A total of 40 percent of the respondents, however, were either still undecided or they did not respond to this question.

The latest VCIOM survey was conducted from March 17 to 24, and among 1,600 respondents.