YEREVAN. – Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Time) newspaper has learned that former Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan has not yet been able to convince President—and ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Chairman—Serzh Sargsyan to appoint him RPA Vice-Chairman and election campaign headquarters’ chief.

“By the way, there was a publication yesterday [i.e. Thursday] in the press that Abrahamyan may withdraw from politics and not run in the [parliamentary] elections [on April 2] with the rating [election] system, with the RPA list. Abrahamyan finds that even though he can bring votes to the RPA, being nominated [for a parliamentary seat] with the rating [system] is not honorable for him. He wishes to have a top position on the [RPA] proportional [election] list.

“If, in the near future, he cannot obtain assurance from Serzh Sargsyan on his political future, he will not work for the RPA, but for the bloc formed by his in-law [opposition Prosperous Armenia Party former leader—and businessman MP—Gagik] Tsarukyan, during the elections,” wrote Haykakan Zhamanak.