ULP leader Gourgen Arsenian promised the journalists on January 16 that his party was preparing for a serious pre-electoral campaign in the elections of mayor for Charentsavan city. Mr. Arsenian has noted in “Pastark” club that he considers Charentsavan mayor’s election as the first stage for his party’s political activation. “Let’s not forget, – he has said, – that ULP is a component of the country’s authority. And we think that we are able to hold transparent, balanced elections and exclude any kind of irregularities”. But the ULP representative withdrew his candidacy in three days giving an opportunity for Kotayk marzpet Kovalenko Shahgeldian’s son to be elected without alternative candidate. The half-official explanation is that the rivalry may cause clashes the ULP tries to avoid of it. In short Koval’s clan is ready to fight to get the mayor’s position. I have no doubt in it. They shouldn’t simply boast of it. In fact, the ULP, being the part of authority, didn’t succeed in excluding the “abuse of different levers”.
But I want to quote Mr. Arsenian’s another thought with which I completely agree. “ In the result of those elections, – ULP leader said, – it will be possible to remark the effectiveness of reformed “Electoral Code” which came into force on January 17. Indeed. The forthcoming elections of Charentsavan showed the “effectiveness” of “Electoral Code”. Now we can affirm that code, reformed or not. Democratic or despotic, will have no meaning for the coming parliamentary elections. One of the decisive factors in the forthcoming NA elections will be the power of one of the candidate’s band. If a band tries to oppose to another band, a battle will be waged between them. “The problem will be solved by shots”, as “Alraghatsi Lyov” has predicted.
It isn’t only obvious why it is called “election”.