“Hello, Yerevan!” bloc voted for changes in governance system

YEREVAN, May 5./ARKA/. Armen Martirosyan, a top candidate of “Hello, Yerevan!” bloc, has voted at 6/28 polling station for the political party which supports the cardinal changes in the governance system. 

Yerevan Council of Elders election is being held today in the capital. The polling stations will close at 20:00. Some 816,475 constituents are registered in the electoral lists.

The bloc embraces Heritage, Democratic path and Labor Socialist parties of Armenia.

 

“I have voted for this political bloc, and I wish our citizens to exit from this apathy condition noticed in February (the presidential election), and to vote for the new governance system,” Martirosyan told reporters. 

He also said bribery cases had been recorded throughout Yerevan.

“Electoral bribes had been distributed throughout Yerevan, neither Police nor the National Security Service have reacted,” he said and added this is mainly a threat to the national security.

Martirosyan didn’t name, however, the political forces which were involved, according to him, into bribery cases. He said the polling stations are still open, and he will refer to this issue again tomorrow.

He also noted coalition of oppositional forces is possible after the election, but it depends on how different oppositional parties will behave during the election. 

“ I am also sure that the bloc which pledges  drastic changes can make majority alone,” he said.

Araqelutyun (Mission), Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Orinats Yerkir, Republican, ARF Danshanktsutyun parties as well as “Barev, Yerevan” (Hello, Yerevan) bloc are registered in the electoral list. 

Incumbent Mayor Taron Margaryan tops the electoral list of the ruling Republican Party (195 candidates). Chief of Emergency Situations Ministry Armen Yeritsyan is a candidate from Orinats Yerkir (105 candidates). Former Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan represents Prosperous Armenia party (194), foreign Mayor of Yerevan Vahagn Khachatryan-Armenian National Congress (42), parliamentary faction head Armen Rustamyan- ARF Dashnaktsutyun (65) and deputy head of Heritage party Armen Martirosyan tops the electoral list of “Barev, Yerevan” (Hello, Yerevan) bloc (64). Economist Mesrop Arakelyan comes up as Araqelutyun party (29) chief candidate.

The Council of Elders is made up of 65 members who are elected through party lists. If a party or a bloc gains 50% of the vote, the top candidate of the list automatically becomes Yerevan Mayor. Otherwise, Mayor will be elected by the Council members. The minimal threshold for parties is 6%, for blocs-8%. —0-