Republican Party of Armenia to ‘play first fiddle’ in Armenia’s politics during coming decade – Eduard Sharmazanov

Spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and Vice-Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov believes that a new political situation with new rules of the game has developed in Armenia, which stems from Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s statements.

To inform all the political figures that intend to run for the presidency or premiership of Armenia, he said that the RPA is the principal – if not the only – way to that during the coming decade.

“The RPA will play the first fiddle on Armenia’s political arena during the coming decade,” Sharmazanov said.
 
“Specifically, President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement that he had no intention to seek a third term was actually an announcement of the rules of a new political game, which has not been fully perceived. The president said that he had no intention to run for the presidency and, in case of parliamentary system, he would not seek Armenia’s premiership,” Sharmazanov said.

Armenia’s president also stressed his conviction was that one and the same person must not run for more than two consecutive presidential terms in his life.

“He noted that, whatever rules are in effect, the Republican Party of Armenia, with him as its leader, would continue playing its decisive role in Armenia’s politics. We have launched a government system with a diminishing political role of one person and a substantially enhanced role of political parties,” Sharmazanov said.

With respect to the RPA, he said:

“The leader of our state clearly said that it is the RPA’s vote - rather than the vote of a former or future leader - that would be decisive both now and during the coming decade because the RPA is leader in terms of both organization and political potential and will remain leader in our politics during the coming decade. By his statement President Serzh Sargsyan clearly showed that any political figures that intended to run for the highest government posts the RPA was the principal – if not the only – way to that during the coming decade.”

As to whether this could be interpreted as a proposal to join the RPA to Armenia’s first and second presidents, Sharmazanov said:

“The reality is that the RPA will play first fiddle in Armenia’s political arena during the coming decade.”