YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)– "I guarantee a free and fair election in my constituency–and let nobody should for riggings here," Aghvan Vardanian–a candidate for Parliament from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation–told a press conference on May 20.
The candidate is certain of his success–as well as of ARF’s capability of clearing a five percent barrier despite forecasts by sociologist Gevorg Poghossian who highly doubted the ARF’s success in the capital.
Vardanian thinks that no force–including the "Unity" bloc–is in position to garner over 60 percent of votes in the next parliament.
Furthermore–he thinks it to be undesirable that one group should succeed as the experience of the past years shows that the dominance of any one political force in the legislature makes it impossible to solve vital problems and lead Armenia from social and economic crisis.
Among the top priority targets of the future National Assembly–Vardanian mentioned the creation of legislative frameworks to overcome the "abnormal polarization of society in Armenia," which will help rebuild popular trust in the legislature. This task can be encompassed only if the next parliament essentially differs from the current one to be a political body for a minimum of 60 percent.
Poghossian thinks the May 30 elections will signal the end of the second phase of the change of leadership in Armenia–with the third and final phase to come this fall when new local government bodies will be formed.