The opposition did immense work: Ruben Mehrabyan

Yerevan City Council elections are in the past now. After election results and elections Ruben Mehrabyan, political scientist, assured reporters that Armenia isn’t strengthened after this election cycle, as well as it failed to add its possibilities to overcome the challenges that Armenia faces.

“By yesterday’s elections mostly but not fully another election figure ended in Armenia. Not totally, as the political process as such will continue until April, when the deadline for Serzh Sargsyan’s presidential liabilities will be over, only after that we’ll consider that the entire election cycle is over.”

Touching upon elections being organized or not, Ruben Mehrabyan said,

“We should say that yesterday’s elections were well organized by the authorities, however, they were ordinary, post-Soviet, Eurasian, Russia-like elections, which had no connection to public interest. This gave nothing to the society. Participation of less than 40 percent shows that a citizen of Yerevan mostly stayed at home.”

Touching upon its reasons Ruben Mehrabyan said,

“There is low trust toward voters, the institute of elections. They don’t consider elections important event to make them come out. This comes from the process of consistent discrediting of the institute in our country, from the practice of turning the political process into circus, most of them are normal people, out of numerous reasons they want to refrain from this.”

Touching upon the opposition’s role in these elections, he said,

“The opposition, to its honor, did immense work. It mobilized a rather wide circle. They are about to stand on their feet and may allow slips. However, it succeeded to motivate a wide circle and organize their joint work. But they failed to provide necessary social background for the desired change.”

As for Taron Margaryan, elected as Yerevan city mayor, Ruben Mehrabyan said,

“At these elections RPA maximally mobilized its resources and did it in a rather organized mode. He used both yard and administrative resources, besides, the police also wasn’t indifferent toward what RPA does or doesn’t do. Careless 5 years aren’t anticipated to Taron Margaryan, as the opposition should hint that he won’t act as he used to. Any extra expenditure, that the City Council will make from the budget will be in the center of public attention.”

He also added that after elections rather dynamic period is awaited in Armenia, “We have to have a different-quality political economy management. After elections a rather dynamic period is awaited. We need changes, today the Republican party has assumed that responsibility.”

By Ani Torosyan