Arman Melikyan: Final result of Raffi Hovannisian-led movement will be different from declared goals
Panorama.am held an interview with former presidential candidate Arman Melikyan asking him to comment on the post-election movement led by Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian.
- How do you assess the latest developments of Raffi Hovannisian-led movement?
- I think Raffi Hovannisian’s activities should be viewed in the context of the political processes that take place in Armenia during the past one and a half or two years. The general tendency was that the authorities tried to split the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and to force it out of political processes and then to take control of not only the pro-government but also the opposition field. By saying authorities I mean not only the Republican Party of Armenia but also the Prosperous Armenia Party and ARFD (which have common economic and political interests with RPA), irrespective of the fact that they have left the ruling coalition. These two political forces did not run in the presidential elections, creating competition-free conditions for the ruling camp. Instead, Raffi Hovannisian was proclaimed a runner-up. I think in the pre-election period he did his utmost to legitimize the “elections,” while in the post-election period he had only one real task – to ensure peaceful transition from presidential “race” to mayoral “race.”
- Is this movement a post-election or pre-election action?
- We can say that this is rather a movement of a transitional stage and its final result will be different from the declared goals.
- What will be the outcome of the Raffi Hovannisian-led movement?
- I repeat that all this should be viewed in the general context and perhaps in the end we will see RPA as a ruling party, PAP as a centrist “alternative” and ARFD as a “fighting opposition.” The role of the remaining forces represented in parliament, including Heritage, will decrease. This is the most probable and desirable option for the authorities, but new developments can occur at the end of this year, creating a new political situation in the country.
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