Opposition blames defeat in Yerevan elections on disappointed voters

YEREVAN, May 7. /ARKA/. Opposition has not succeeded in the Sunday election to Yerevan’s Council of Elders as citizens were disappointed, said deputy head of Heritage party Armen Martirosyan who headed the Hello Yerevan party bloc list.

“Ahead of the election the opposition created a situation that led to disappointment. Citizens did not hope the opposition was able of taking combined steps, they saw the opposition was fighting each other instead of fighting against the authorities. Citizens have seen this and have punished the opposition forces”, Martirosyan told a press conference Tuesday.

The oppositionist also said that voters were very much attracted to money in this election. It is not surprising in a country where poverty level is up at 70-80%, Martirosyan said.

If opposition parties manage to consolidate their efforts and put up united front, it may change the situation and even lead to a snap election. 

Election to Yerevan’s Council of Elders was held Sunday at 464 precincts across the capital. According to the preliminary vote count results, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia polled 55.86% (235,512 votes), Prosperous Armenia of tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan got 97,189 votes or 23.05% and “Hello, Yerevan” bloc obtained 35,732 votes or 8.47%. These two parties and the party bloc managed to clear the election hurdle and enter the city’s municipal assembly.

The opposition Armenian National Congress party polled 4.39% (18,499) of the vote, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) – 3.80% (15,999), Orinats Yerkir - 3.73% (15,733) and the Mission party – 0.64% (2,692).

The elections were watched by over 6,600 local observers from 26 organizations and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

The city council consists of 65 people and party list system is used for the elections. If a party or a bloc gains more than 50% of the vote, the first number of the party list becomes mayor of Yerevan automatically. Otherwise, the mayor is to be elected by the city council (Council of Elders). The right to nominate candidates for mayor belongs to the factions within the Council of Elders. The electoral threshold is 6% for parties and 8% for blocs. –0—