ANC not to participate in Council of Elders and mayoral elections in Yerevan

Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc will more probably not to participate in the upcoming Council of Elders and mayoral elections in Yerevan.

Speaking to Tert.am, Lyudmila Sargsyan said her personal opinion is that they do not think this issue is urgent and consider their participation in them senseless.

“Besides, taking into consideration how the presidential elections passed, I mean the ill system, each election is of formal nature,” she said, stressing that it is her personal opinion.
The nominations in the elections start from March 11 and last till March 21 inclusive.

Secretary of Prosperous Armenia party’s faction Naira Zohrabyan said the party has not discussed the issue yet. “We are going to discuss the issue at the party’s political council’s session open and publicly,” she told Tert.am.

Zhoghovurd paper wrote today that in 2009 the list of Prosperous Armenia party (PAP) was headed by ex healthcare minister Harutyun Kushkyan. The paper says this time as well Kushkyan has been offered to top the list but has refused the proposal. In the initial talks the name of PAP faction secretary Naira Zohrabyan has few times been mentioned.

According to Tert.am’s information the PAP list will be topped by an open, public figure. In this respect the most convenient candidate is Gurgen Arsenyan, but his being leader of other party, United Labor Party, almost excludes it.

As to Gagik Tsarukyan, it is obvious that if he refused to run for presidency, he will not participate in the mayoral elections as well.

Tert.am says the Heritage party’s list will be headed by Zaruhi Postanjyan, as Raffi Hovannisian has earlier stated that he will not repeat Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s mistake in 2009 and as ‘elected president’ he will not participate in mayoral elections.

Speaking to Tert.am Heritage party’s deputy leader Armen Martirosyan said they have not discussed anything connected with the Council of Elders elections.

As to Rule of Law party, according to media outlets, its list is going to be headed by Emergency Situations Minister Armen Yeritsyan who will be followed by ex head of Arabkir administrative district Hovhannes Shahinyan.

The Republican party’s list will be headed by incumbent mayor Taron Margaryan.