YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Following years of being banned from taking part in the Armenian political process–the Armenian Revolutionary Federation garnered the third place position in Sunday’s National Assembly elections.
In the proportional slate–the ARF received 7.86 percent of the votes–while in the majoritatian slate–three ARF candidates were elected to the National Assembly. The candidates were Vahan Hovanessian–ARF Executive Council of Armenia representative and advisor to President Robert Kocharian; Davit Lokian–ARF Executive Council of Armenia member; and Martoun Matevossian–member of the ARF Bureau.
In a telephone conversation with ARF Executive Council of Armenia member Gegham Manoukian–Asbarez was told about the celebratory mood which followed the elections.
Manoukian said that the third place win in the elections–ensured that the ARF has returned to its rightful place in the political arena in Armenia–following years of persecution–expulsions and being banned as a party in the country.
The ARF was banned by former leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan and although the ban was lifted upon Kocharian’s election last year–the ARF did not participate in the presidential elections with a candidate. In the former parliament–the ARF was represented by one deputy–Rouben Hakopian–who was elected not on a proportional slate–but rather on the majoritarian front.
"I hope that the future parliament will be better than the previous one and will return functions of control and play a significant role in country’s life," Hovanessian said Sunday after casting his ballot in the elections. He added that if "semi-criminal elemen’s again fill parliament–that will lead to difficulties."
Hovanessian noted that "among those who are currently running for parliament there are many appropriate persons."
He hoped that the next National Assembly will be a political body–and sufficient enough to return to an atmosphere of morals in leadership.
"I wish they stole less out of the feeling of shame. Why should they have been ashamed during the times of the previous parliament–if deputies were stealing even greater portion," the ARF leader said.
Talks that the next parliament will be worse than the last are groundless–Hovanessian said. As to the resigning National Assembly–"it also had hardworking people–but the National Assembly was formed through irregularities–violence and pressure." According to the representative of the Executive Council of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation–the parliament formed through such elections could not perform its functions since the people did not trust the body.
"I hope that the future parliament will be better than the previous one and will return functions of control and play a significant role in country’s life," representative of the Executive Council of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation said after participating in the voting. According to him–if "semi-criminal elemen’s again fill parliament–that will lead to difficulties."
Hovanessian noted that "among those who are currently running for parliament there are many appropriate persons." He hoped that the next National Assembly will be a political body–and sufficient enough to return to an atmosphere of morals in leadership. "I wish they stole less out of the feeling of shame. Why should they have been ashamed during the times of the previous parliament–if deputies were stealing even greater portion," the ARF leader said.
Talks that the next parliament will be worse than the last are groundless–Hovanessian said. As to the resigning National Assembly–"it also had hardworking people–but the National Assembly was formed through irregularities–violence and pressure." According to the representative of the Executive Council of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation–the parliament formed through such elections could not perform its functions since the people did not trust the body.
Vahan Hovanessian voiced hope that the next parliament will be elected by the people and despite all shortcomings in composition and contents that may emerge–the National Assembly will be able to play a big role in country’s life.