Political expert: If Gagik Tsarukyan runs for president, he will be a
serious competitor for incumbent Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
arminfo
Saturday, December 8, 13:31
If Leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan runs
for president, he will be a serious competitor for the incumbent
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of
the Caucasus Institute, said at today's press conference.
He thinks that either Tsarukyan will advance his own nominee, or the
PAP will nominate another candidate, as non-participation in the
elections will have a negative effect on the PAP's image given the
electorate's serious support, and the May parliamentary elections are
direct evidence of that.
In the meantime, the fact that the PAP has not announced any intention
to participate in the elections so far demonstrates certain
behind-the-scenes processes between the authorities and the PAP. "It
is obvious that the conditions offered to Tsarukyan do not satisfy him
if the latter continues the intrigue", said Iskandaryan.
As regards the possible behavior of the Armenian National Congress
(ANC), Iskandaryan supposes that the ANC will support Tsarukyan's
candidacy if the latter runs for president. The expert is sure that if
the ANC participates in the elections simultaneously with the PAP, the
ANC and the PAP will have small chances to receive serious results;
consequently, it is more profitable for the ANC to support the PAP or
to run only in case the PAP leaves the arena.
From: Baghdasarian
serious competitor for incumbent Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
arminfo
Saturday, December 8, 13:31
If Leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan runs
for president, he will be a serious competitor for the incumbent
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of
the Caucasus Institute, said at today's press conference.
He thinks that either Tsarukyan will advance his own nominee, or the
PAP will nominate another candidate, as non-participation in the
elections will have a negative effect on the PAP's image given the
electorate's serious support, and the May parliamentary elections are
direct evidence of that.
In the meantime, the fact that the PAP has not announced any intention
to participate in the elections so far demonstrates certain
behind-the-scenes processes between the authorities and the PAP. "It
is obvious that the conditions offered to Tsarukyan do not satisfy him
if the latter continues the intrigue", said Iskandaryan.
As regards the possible behavior of the Armenian National Congress
(ANC), Iskandaryan supposes that the ANC will support Tsarukyan's
candidacy if the latter runs for president. The expert is sure that if
the ANC participates in the elections simultaneously with the PAP, the
ANC and the PAP will have small chances to receive serious results;
consequently, it is more profitable for the ANC to support the PAP or
to run only in case the PAP leaves the arena.
From: Baghdasarian