Expert predicts victory of RPA “reformers” wing over “oligarchs”

PanARMENIAN.Net - An expert in political and electoral technologies Armen Badalyan commented on the struggle between the “reformer” youth wing and “criminal-oligarchic” wing of the Republican Party of Armenia.

At news conference in Yerevan, the expert predicted the victory of administration-supported “reformer” wing. “The “oligarchic” wing will be sure to protest the West-demanded reforms in anti-monopoly and economy sectors,” Badalyan said.

“The resignation of Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan, parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan comes as a proof of “reformers”’ victory,” he noted.

“Those who failed to provide necessary results at parliamentary elections will be evicted from power pyramid, to be replaced by more effective managers,” the expert concluded, citing reports of Gyumri Mayor resignation over the latter’s failure to provide RPA candidates’ majority victory.

The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) took a decisive victory at the parliamentary elections on May 6 gaining 44,02% of votes.

The coalition Prosperous Armenia party comes second with 30,12% of votes and the opposition ANC is placed third with 7,08%. The opposition parties Heritage (5,76%) and ARF Dashnaktsutyun (5,67%), as well as the third coalition Orinats Yerkir party (5,51%) also joined the new parliament.

RPA gained absolute majority of 69 seats in the 131-member National Assembly, 40 by proportional and 29 by majority system of voting.

Prosperous Armenia got 37 seats (28 by proportional and 9 by majority systems) and ANC was left with 7.

Dashnaktsutyun and Orinats Yerkir got 6 seats each (5 by proportional and 1 by majority systems), while Heritage got 5.