Political Force that can Falsify Elections Will Win: Armenian Politician

The quality of the domestic political arena in Armenia hasn’t change and in fact, there has been no internal rearrangement. Actually there are two main poles: the government and the opposition, said former Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) foreign minister, 2008 presidential elections candidate Arman Melikyan, speaking to journalists in Yerevan today. 

According to him, ruling parties have gathered on the government wing, while the main portion of the opposition is represented by the Armenian National Congress (HAK).

In his opinion, this is the reality and these conditions were formed after and as a result of the 2008 presidential elections.

The results of those elections, according to Melikyan, led to a sharp polarization of society. The politician sees three main sections of society: first, the pro-government segment, which, according to him, comprises only a small part of Armenian society; second, official opposition in the face of HAK, where represented are about 20 political parties that have gathered around one individual, HAK leader Levon Ter-Petrossian; and the third segment, which, according to Melikyan, is the largest group, believes neither the government nor the opposition. 

In Melikyan’s opinion, that political force which can falsify the 2012 parliamentary elections will come out on top. He noted that the amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code and complications in the electoral process assume that the government is already at work to ensure their victory. 

Another participant in today’s press conference, ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) MP Hamlet Harutyunyan disagreed with Melikyan’s remark that the public is polarized. 

In Harutyunyan’s opinion, there is a “normal government” and a “struggling opposition.”

The political force that is organized will win the elections, added the MP.