Yerevan of dream to become real in the near future: Taron Margaryan

YEREVAN, MaY 5./ARKA/. Incumbent Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan, who tops the electoral list of the ruling Republican Party, has voted for making Yerevan city of its residents’ dreams come true. 

“The dream of Yerevan residents of their city will come true in the near future,” he said after voting at N1/17 polling station. 

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.

“I have been working in territorial administration sphere for eight years so far, and I am firsthand aware about the issues of Yerevan. During our campaign we have presented our new programs,” Margaryan said. 

Responding to the question about bribes distributed by the Republicans today, he said he is not aware of any case. 

“If you have such information, apply to law enforcement bodies,” he recommended to journalists. 

It is noteworthy, that before Margaryan arrived, an incident had happened at the polling station. One of the voters erased the passport stamp with a wet wipe and showed it to the chief of the electoral commission. The case was recorded in the protocol  by the local electoral commission and will be later submitted to the Central Electoral Commission. 

Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Tigran Mukuchyan said earlier today that the expertise of the passport stamp ink was made during the seminars for the electoral commission members. He appealed to the constituents not to try to erase the ink by different means, for example, wet wipes. 

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 “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-