Parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamian
President Serzh Sarkisian will face no serious challengers in his bid to win a second term in office in an upcoming election, parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamian said late on Tuesday.
“Of course, I don’t see today serious competitors of Serzh Sarkisian,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) during a visit to the Czech Republic. “That is my personal opinion. I don’t want to offend anyone. I just don’t see [strong opposition presidential candidates.]”
Other senior representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) have also said in recent weeks that Sarkisian’s victory in the presidential election due in February is a forgone conclusion. This has triggered opposition allegations that the Armenian authorities are planning to rig the election.