YEREVAN. – The oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) pre-election campaign headquarters’ head Levon Zurabyan has sent a written appeal to Armenia’s CEC chief Tigran Mukuchyan demanding to remove the promotional posters of ruling Republican Party (RPA), which are posted on RPA offices’ all over the country, as the pre-election campaign has not started yet.

In his appeal Zurabyan informs that even though the pre-election campaign has not started yet, RPA has opened campaign offices all over the country, the signboards of those offices include direct calls to vote for the party and the slogan of the party.

According to Election Code Article 18, Part 8, ANC demands to remove those posters or else they will have to apply to court according to the Part 2 of the article demanding the revocation of the party’s electoral list.

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.

Armenian National Congress (ANC) is an opposition bloc founded in 2008 after presidential elections. During the August 1, 2008, rally in Yerevan the first President of Armenia and ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan announced formation of the bloc. ANC comprises 18 parties and political forces.

ANC proportional list includes 119 names. It has also nominated MP candidates with the majority election system.