“As far as I know, the elections were very clean, but I also see problems. I think it’s strange that inner political slogans were used during campaigns despite the fact that they weren’t parliamentary or presidential elections,” said expert on international and security issues, former advisor on national security issues to the president from 1991-1993 Ashot Manchuryan’s assistant, Russian-Armenian Vladimir Poghosyan during a video chat with “Sputnik Armenia” regarding the results of the Yerevan City Council elections.
According to him, “People didn’t vote for the “My Step” alliance. Instead, they used the prime minister’s ratings. These elections were important for the prime minister to show the RPA that he has trust. Of course, the RPA now had the possibility of saying sorry, but 43 percent participation isn’t a majority.”
Regarding the prime minister’s announcement about negotiating for holding National Assembly elections soon, Vladimir Poghosyan said that it’s not necessary to be in a hurry. “It’s being said that elections might take place in November, but why so soon? The elections need to take place after six months so that the other political forces can have time to prepare. The government understands that its ratings will decline next April-May. Pashinyan’s team is in a hurry because they’re ready, but the other political parties won’t be able to prepare.”
According to Poghosyan, if Pashinyan will be successful in making all political forces agree to holding National Assembly elections, that will keep Armenia away from having a political crisis, but if the RPA chooses another Prime Minister (according to the law, the National Assembly needs to not vote for a Prime Minister twice in order to dissolve), then people will come out onto the streets again, which will greatly damage the economy.
Luiza Sukiasyan
