FIFTY-FIFTY

Head of “Political technologies Center” Suren Sureniants remarks the possibility of victory of both candidates in this way.

– The opposition and the authority have launched the rally two-three months before. How do you remark the results of the rally?
– It became clear during the non-official rally that there are two opposite forces, one is the authority led by Serge Sargsyan, and the second is the opposition led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan. There are also other candidates who may exert a certain influence on the results of the elections: among them are Arthur Baghdasaryan, Vazgen Manukyan, Vahan Hovhanisyan and Artashes Geghamyan. I would like to note that we can\’t predict the elections any more; the results of the lections aren\’t predicted. But I feel sorry that the level of political dialogue is not high.
– But after Levon Ter-Petrosyan\’s first two meeting the level of the debate rose.
– There are two circumstances which low that level: the aggressive behavior of the official propaganda, which was focused only on one candidate and the behavior of free press. In my opinion the press should oppose to the authority\’s accusations in a high level.
– Do you mean the opposition-authority or opposition-opposition debates?
– I mean both. The RA First President, current Prime Minister, First Prime Minister, NA former chairman participate in the pre-electoral campaign, and if we don\’t manage to organize a civil and high level campaign, where ideology and political principles should dominate, our society and the foreign countries won\’t have a positive opinion about us. I would like to note another thing: we should participate in the elections by competitive methods instead of confrontation. We should admit that the authority managed to remove the conflict to the opposition-opposition arena. I think all oppositionist candidates may come to an agreement on an issue ( I don\’t mean Geghamyan since he doesn\’t represent the opposition): to avoid of mutual accusations and blackmails. I think the role of the press is very high in this.
– In your opinion which candidate has more chances to win, Serge Sargsyan or Levon Ter-Petrosyan?
– If I were a populist and spoke as a representative from Levon Ter-Petrosyan\’s team, I would say that Ter-Petrosyan has more chances to win. But since I want to be objective, I say that the elections are predicted. Both S. Sargsyan and L. Ter-Petrosyan have almost equal opportunities, even taking into consideration S. Sargsyan\’s administrative resources etc. If Levon Ter-Petrosyan manages to struggle in ideological, political field, his possibilities to win will rise for several times. If he doesn\’t succeed in it, administrative resources will be dominant, and Serge Sargsyan\’s possibilities to win will rise. Each candidate has his way of struggle. S. Sargsyan\’s manner of struggle is mobilized state system, apathetic and anti-ideological situation of the society, Ter-Petrosyan\’s struggles just in the opposite way, it is public policy and the politically informed society. We should respect our society because it is much cleverer than the whole political arena and needs in more qualitative product than what we have to see and listen within last two months.