Armenia’s first president has no expectations from city assembly elections

YEREVAN, May 5. / ARKA /. Armenia's first post-Soviet president Levon Ter-Petrosian, who is also chairman of the recently established  Armenian National Congress party, voted today in Council of Elders elections in Yerevan at 9/11 polling station.

"I have no expectations from these elections. People get involved in politics from election to election, and those who boycott them have no right to complain, «he said in response to questions from reporters.

The elections are contested by six registered parties and one bloc -  the parties are Arakelutyun (Mission), Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia),  the Armenian National Congress, Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law), the  Republican Party of Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutyun  (ARF), as well as Hello, Yerevan bloc.

The list of the ruling Republican Party is toped by incumbent mayor Taron Margaryan.  The list of Orinats Yerkir – by emergency minister Armen Yeritsyan.  The list of Prosperous Armenia- by Former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian. The ANC list is headed by ex mayor Vahagn Khachatryan. The ARF list is topped by Armen Rustamyan. The slate of Hello, Yerevan - by deputy chairman of Heritage party Armen Martirosyan. The list of Arakelutyun is topped by Mesrop Arakelyan.

The Council of Elders is composed of 65 people, who are elected by proportional system (by party lists). If a party or a bloc gains more than 50% of the vote, the first number of the party list automatically becomes mayor of Yerevan. Otherwise, the mayor is to be elected by the Council of Elders. The right to nominate candidates for mayor belongs to the factions within the Council of Elders. The electoral threshold for parties is 6%, for party blocs is 8%. -0-