STRUGGLE AMONG PRO-GOVERNMENTAL POLITICAL FORCES WILL PROCEED DURING FORTHCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, RPA BOARD MEMBER SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 14 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The opposition should have united on
the threshold of forthcoming parliamentary elections and should have
struggled for not receiving mandates, but for establishing lawfulness
in Armenia, including holding of legal elections. Former RA Deputy
Prime Minister, non-partisan Vahan Shirkhanian stated this at the
March 14 dispute organized at the Hayeli (Mirror) club.

In his words, there are three directions in the opposition field. The
first group includes oppositionists who struggle for receiving
mandates, the second those who take part in the elections for the
purpose of implementing programs aimed at country’s well-being and the
third those who do not take part in the elections and consider them
"farce and a senseless thing." By the way, in V. Shirkhanian’s words,
the first group also includes "opposition" forces who have made a
bargain with the authorities.

In the opinion of RA MP Samvel Nikoyan, member of the Republican
Party Board, not ideological, but purely political struggle proceeds
in preelectoral processes. "Preelectoral processes go on rather by
the logic "what to do to have a bigger electorate," he stated.

According to S. Nikoyan’s observations, the characteristic of the
forthcoming parliamentary elections differs from the previous ones:
there is no sharp struggle between the authorities and the opposition
this time. For instance, "the Republican Party of Armenia considers
as its rivals Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia), ARFD and United
Labor Party." "At the May 12 elections the main struggle will proceed
among the political forces of pro-governmental system," S. Nikoyan said
adding that this time each political force will strive for achieving
more and will not permit another one to commit falsifications.