Expert: parliamentary elections are primaries of presidential race

March 22, 2012 - 14:18 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The upcoming parliamentary elections will become sort of primaries for the presidential elections due in 2013, Caucasus Institute director Alexander Iskandaryan said at a press conference in Yerevan.

Responding to the question of PanARMENIAN.Net reporter about the potential presidential candidate nominated by the Prosperous Armenia, given the fact that RPA and ANC candidates are clear already, Iskandaryan said this question should be addressed again in fall. He emphasized that everything will depend on the number of seats in the next parliament and governmental positions Prosperous Armenia manages to secure.

Elections to the National Assembly of Armenia are scheduled for May 6. The parties have to overcome the 5% and the election blocs 7% barrier respectively in order to get seats in the parliament.

Experts believe that main competitors will be coalition RPA, Prosperous Armenia, Orinats Yerkir parties and the opposition ANC (running as an election bloc), ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage (half of its list provided to Free Democrats party).