EXPERT: ESCALATION OF SITUATION IN GYUMRI WILL REACH HEIGHTS AFTER MAYORAL ELECTIONS - DURING ACCEPTANCE AND DELIVERY OF MUNICIPAL FACILITIES
arminfo
Monday, July 30, 18:22
The tension in Gyumri regarding the forthcoming mayoral elections has
slightly declined over the past few days, Levon Barseghyan, Chairman
of the Gyumri-based "Asparez" Journalists' Club, told ArmInfo.
He said that several days ago the situation in the town was rather
tense, as the current mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, opposed
vigorously the decision of his own Republic Party of Armenia (RPA) to
support another candidate - Samvel Balasanyan, MP from the Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP), the owner of the Gyumri beer factory, during the
mayoral elections. "Just imagine how hard it was for Ghukasyan to put
up with this information after 13 consecutive years in the post of the
town's mayor. Over the first days after the RPA's decision, rumors were
spread in Gyumri saying that Ghukasyan's son intimidates the residents
of Gyumri and the new contender for the mayor's post Samvel Balasanyan,
but now the tension has declined", said Barseghyan. He added that now
the residents of Gyumri attentively follow the confrontation between
two RPA members - Vardan Ghukasyan and Ashot Aghababyan.
As regards the chances of Ghukasyan and Balasanyan for the forthcoming
elections, Barseghyan said that both candidates will be able to
obtain no more than 40-50% in case of transparent elections. "Neither
Balasanyan nor Ghukasyan is the one the residents of Gyumri would
like to see as a mayor. But at the same time, there is no alternative
candidate either", he said. The expert also pointed out that both
Balasanyan and Ghukasyan held high posts during the current regime,
i.e. they took direct part in the current political course, and
neither of them is smart.
Concerning the possible electoral developments in Gyumri, Barseghyan
said that the situation may become a little bit tense if Vardan
Ghukasyan "is not allowed" to run for mayor. "But the escalation
of the situation will reach heights after the elections, during
the "acceptance and delivery of the municipal facilities". Numerous
questions may arise, and the answers may create serious tension in the
town. One should not forget that Ghukasyan has managed the economy of
Gyumri for 13 years, and nobody has asked him any questions", he said.
arminfo
Monday, July 30, 18:22
The tension in Gyumri regarding the forthcoming mayoral elections has
slightly declined over the past few days, Levon Barseghyan, Chairman
of the Gyumri-based "Asparez" Journalists' Club, told ArmInfo.
He said that several days ago the situation in the town was rather
tense, as the current mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, opposed
vigorously the decision of his own Republic Party of Armenia (RPA) to
support another candidate - Samvel Balasanyan, MP from the Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP), the owner of the Gyumri beer factory, during the
mayoral elections. "Just imagine how hard it was for Ghukasyan to put
up with this information after 13 consecutive years in the post of the
town's mayor. Over the first days after the RPA's decision, rumors were
spread in Gyumri saying that Ghukasyan's son intimidates the residents
of Gyumri and the new contender for the mayor's post Samvel Balasanyan,
but now the tension has declined", said Barseghyan. He added that now
the residents of Gyumri attentively follow the confrontation between
two RPA members - Vardan Ghukasyan and Ashot Aghababyan.
As regards the chances of Ghukasyan and Balasanyan for the forthcoming
elections, Barseghyan said that both candidates will be able to
obtain no more than 40-50% in case of transparent elections. "Neither
Balasanyan nor Ghukasyan is the one the residents of Gyumri would
like to see as a mayor. But at the same time, there is no alternative
candidate either", he said. The expert also pointed out that both
Balasanyan and Ghukasyan held high posts during the current regime,
i.e. they took direct part in the current political course, and
neither of them is smart.
Concerning the possible electoral developments in Gyumri, Barseghyan
said that the situation may become a little bit tense if Vardan
Ghukasyan "is not allowed" to run for mayor. "But the escalation
of the situation will reach heights after the elections, during
the "acceptance and delivery of the municipal facilities". Numerous
questions may arise, and the answers may create serious tension in the
town. One should not forget that Ghukasyan has managed the economy of
Gyumri for 13 years, and nobody has asked him any questions", he said.