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ARMENIA: STRUGGLE FOR "THE TOP PRIZE"
Vestnik Kavkaza
Sept 4 2012
Russia
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK
On September 9 in five regions of Armenia elections to local
administrations will take place. The main issue is the battle for
the mayor's position in the city of Gumri - the second largest city
of Armenia after Yerevan. Four candidates compete for it: Samvel
Balasanian, the member of Prosperous Armenia; Ovsep Simonyan,
the representative of the opposition party Dashnaktsutyun; two
independent candidates - businessman Andranik Avetisyan and pensioner
Spartak Petrosyan. The ruling Republican party has decided to support
Balasanian. Galust Saakian, the vice-chairman of the RPA, stated that
the decision was based on a desire of local party organizations:
"As always local party organizations decide themselves whom to
support. In Gumri the RPA will support Samvel Balasanian." The current
mayor of Gumri, the RPA's member Vardan Gukasian doesn't take part
in the elections - he didn't succeed in the parliamentary elections
on May 6 in Gumri when the RPA was defeated by its former partner,
Prosperous Armenia.
The intention to support Prosperous Armenia's candidate seems to be
irrational for the most powerful and self-sufficient party in Armenia.
The RPA usually support republican candidates only. "If the RPA states
about support of Samvel Balasanian in the Gumri local elections, it
doesn't mean that the RPA and Prosperous Armenia have any agreements on
this issue. Prosperous Armenia in these elections supports candidates
who provide effective administration and high-quality municipal
management. I hope someday the majority of the society will understand
that Prosperous Armenia proposes advantageous programs, approaches,
decisions, and staff," the secretary of Prosperous Armenia, Tigran
Urikhanian, said.
Why does the RPA support not a member of the party, but a
representative of Prosperous Armenia, despite its power resources
and nonreciprocity of Prosperous Armenia?
There are two opposite opinions on this step of the ruling elite
and general relations between the RPA and Prosperous Armenia in
the expert and political circle of Armenia. According to the first
opinion, Prosperous Armenia is still a part of power and two forces
(the RPA and Prosperous Armenia) are still cooperating, despite the
fact PA hasn't joined the ruling coalition after the parliamentary
elections on May 6. "The RPA and Prosperous Armenia share everything
like brothers," the member of the opposition party of "Free Democrats",
Karapet Rubinian, is sure.
"Prosperous Armenia is hardly considered as an alternative to the RPA,
as PA is the same power system under a different title," the chairman
of the organization of "Cooperation and Democracy", Gagik Avagian,
believes.
Meanwhile, the director of "Kavkaz", Alexander Iskandarian, doesn't
believe in a possibility of cooperation between the RPA and Prosperous
Armenia. He thinks that a fight for power is taking place between
these two parties. Indeed, considering a number of candidates for
participation in the local elections, the RPA and Prosperous Armenia
are the most active. The ruling party presented 342 candidates to the
position of communities' heads and 1001 - to members of Councils of
elders. Regarding Prosperous Armenia, this political force promoted 48
candidates to the position of communities' heads and 239 - to members
of Councils of Elders. Other parties are taking less active part in
the elections.
Thus, as well as in the parliamentary elections, the competition
in the elections on September 9 will take place between the RPA and
Prosperous Armenia. The latter is the most serious rival of the RPA in
the presidential elections in February 2013. At the moment Prosperous
Armenia has no decision on promotion of its own candidate or support
of some other candidate for the top prize - the presidential position.
Vestnik Kavkaza
Sept 4 2012
Russia
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK
On September 9 in five regions of Armenia elections to local
administrations will take place. The main issue is the battle for
the mayor's position in the city of Gumri - the second largest city
of Armenia after Yerevan. Four candidates compete for it: Samvel
Balasanian, the member of Prosperous Armenia; Ovsep Simonyan,
the representative of the opposition party Dashnaktsutyun; two
independent candidates - businessman Andranik Avetisyan and pensioner
Spartak Petrosyan. The ruling Republican party has decided to support
Balasanian. Galust Saakian, the vice-chairman of the RPA, stated that
the decision was based on a desire of local party organizations:
"As always local party organizations decide themselves whom to
support. In Gumri the RPA will support Samvel Balasanian." The current
mayor of Gumri, the RPA's member Vardan Gukasian doesn't take part
in the elections - he didn't succeed in the parliamentary elections
on May 6 in Gumri when the RPA was defeated by its former partner,
Prosperous Armenia.
The intention to support Prosperous Armenia's candidate seems to be
irrational for the most powerful and self-sufficient party in Armenia.
The RPA usually support republican candidates only. "If the RPA states
about support of Samvel Balasanian in the Gumri local elections, it
doesn't mean that the RPA and Prosperous Armenia have any agreements on
this issue. Prosperous Armenia in these elections supports candidates
who provide effective administration and high-quality municipal
management. I hope someday the majority of the society will understand
that Prosperous Armenia proposes advantageous programs, approaches,
decisions, and staff," the secretary of Prosperous Armenia, Tigran
Urikhanian, said.
Why does the RPA support not a member of the party, but a
representative of Prosperous Armenia, despite its power resources
and nonreciprocity of Prosperous Armenia?
There are two opposite opinions on this step of the ruling elite
and general relations between the RPA and Prosperous Armenia in
the expert and political circle of Armenia. According to the first
opinion, Prosperous Armenia is still a part of power and two forces
(the RPA and Prosperous Armenia) are still cooperating, despite the
fact PA hasn't joined the ruling coalition after the parliamentary
elections on May 6. "The RPA and Prosperous Armenia share everything
like brothers," the member of the opposition party of "Free Democrats",
Karapet Rubinian, is sure.
"Prosperous Armenia is hardly considered as an alternative to the RPA,
as PA is the same power system under a different title," the chairman
of the organization of "Cooperation and Democracy", Gagik Avagian,
believes.
Meanwhile, the director of "Kavkaz", Alexander Iskandarian, doesn't
believe in a possibility of cooperation between the RPA and Prosperous
Armenia. He thinks that a fight for power is taking place between
these two parties. Indeed, considering a number of candidates for
participation in the local elections, the RPA and Prosperous Armenia
are the most active. The ruling party presented 342 candidates to the
position of communities' heads and 1001 - to members of Councils of
elders. Regarding Prosperous Armenia, this political force promoted 48
candidates to the position of communities' heads and 239 - to members
of Councils of Elders. Other parties are taking less active part in
the elections.
Thus, as well as in the parliamentary elections, the competition
in the elections on September 9 will take place between the RPA and
Prosperous Armenia. The latter is the most serious rival of the RPA in
the presidential elections in February 2013. At the moment Prosperous
Armenia has no decision on promotion of its own candidate or support
of some other candidate for the top prize - the presidential position.