Armenpress

REPUBLICAN MP PREDICTS NO MAJOR CHANGES IN NEXT
PARLIAMENT

YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS; A senior member of
the governing Republican party of prime minister
Andranik Margarian has downplayed media speculations
and expert forecast that the next Armenian parliament
will be made of quite different forces, saying to a
news conference today that all those forces which are
now in it will win seats as well in 2007 polls.
Galust Sahakian, head of the party’s parliamentary
faction, even made his own forecast saying the
opposition will win as many as 30 seats or even more.
Sahakian did not rule out that the Prosperous Armenia
of Gagik Tsarukian, a recently set up, but rapidly
expanding party and other out -of -parliament forces
may also win seats in the parliament given they choose
a right strategy.
Sahakian said he had no doubts that his Republican
Party will win more seats than any other party, but
said the decision to form an alliance could be made
only after the polls. Sahakian also ruled out pre-term
parliamentary elections because ‘there is no such
need." Sahakian said it was not yet clear whether
defense minister Serzh Sarkisian will join the
Republican party.
Armenian media has been speculating that Sarkisian
will announce his joining the Republican party at its
congress slated for July 22. Local newspapers also
claimed Sarkisian will co-chair the party and top its
list of candidates for next year’s parliamentary
elections.