RPA 13th congress outcomes: promise of changes after elections

March 10, 2012 - 19:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Today, on March 10, Yerevan hosted the 13th congress of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, with leaders of coalition parties and main international partners of RPA, as well as representatives of European People's Party and the United Russia party.

The main motive of the congress, which Armenian President and RPA chairman Serzh Sargsyan stressed in his speech, was the need for serious reforms in the country and the ruling party’s readiness to bring them to life. Along with the party’s achievements of recent years, the existing problems in the republic were highlighted and the party’s priorities were announced following the parliamentary race, such as boosting standard of living, as well as struggle against corruption.

RPA representatives noted boosting Armenian citizens’ standard of living as the key goal of the party, with RPA slogan for the oncoming elections calling for faith in success of the party’s mission.

Hero of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, the United Russia party member Artur Chilingarov, in turn, noted that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had considered last year's bad experience of United Russia during the parliamentary elections. The Russian official further stressed the need to “stand closer to the nation, resolve the problems existing in employment and education field.”

Thus, social theme will be a priority in the election campaign of RPA, judging by both President’s speech and the party’s discussions on its election campaign with party activists in the regions.

The new composition of the party’s governing body, i.e. Executive Body is worth attention, too. It currently comprises 19 members, with 4 representatives from RPA youth generation, Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan, vice speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov and head of RPA youth wing Karen Avagyan. This proves Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s policy targeting generation change in the party’s staff.

It is noteworthy, that the party’s Executive Body has maintained in its composition former Mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan and former head of the presidential administration Karen Karapetyan, only with Harutyun Pambukyan, head of RPA Committee on assisting small and medium businesses dismissed from the new staff.