Opposition lawmaker compares republican party’s convention with communist gathering
13.03.2012,
20:18
Ms. Larisa Alaverdyan, an Armenian parliament member from the opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, compared the 13th convention of f the ruling Republican Party with a Communist gathering. The convention was held last Saturday. It reelected president Serzh Sargsyan as its chairman.
YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. Ms. Larisa Alaverdyan, an Armenian parliament member from the opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, compared the 13th convention of f the ruling Republican Party with a Communist gathering. The convention was held last Saturday. It reelected president Serzh Sargsyan as its chairman.
"The speech of the president did not offer any new ideas and messages. Its style was totalitarian and I got the impression that it was the Congress of the Communist Party," Alaverdyan said on Tuesday.
Hovhannes Sahakyan, an MP from the Republican Party, disagreed with this criticism, saying the speech was addressed not only to party members, but to all citizens of Armenia who want to improve their country.
"The president said that our lives are changeable, and there is no realm that is not being transformed; he called to keep pace with these changes and be confident in their choice," he added.
The Republican Party of Armenia was registered in 1991. From 1990 to 1997 it was led by Ashot Navasardian. After his death Andranik Margaryan was elected its chairman who served as prime minister of Armenia from 2000 to 2007 until his sudden death in 2007. That same year Serzh Sargsyan was elected chairman of the party.
The Republican Party has 65 seats in the parliament. The speaker of the National Assembly, the prime minister and the majority of government ministers are also members of the ruling party. -0-
