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The former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) will not nominate its candidate for the post of Yerevan mayor in the snap elections of the Yerevan Council of Elders slated for 23 September, RPA spokesman, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters on Tuesday.

He cited more pressing domestic and foreign policy issues seen by his party than the local self-government elections as the possible reason behind the decision of the Republican Party.

“But I think each political force should actively participate in all the elections,” he said, stressing it is his personal opinion which the majority of his party does not always share.

Meantime, he stressed the RPA’s decision not to run for the municipal elections may be linked with several factors. “First of all, Armenia is currently in post-revolutionary period, with the Armenian National Assembly as the main platform to act, and there are more urgent foreign and domestic challenges facing Armenia than the local self-government elections,” he said.

Speaking about the RPA’s possible participation in the snap parliamentary elections, Sharmazanov promised to unveil their decision when the election date is set.  

To note, the Civil Contract, Prosperous Armenia, Yerkir Tsirani and Armenian Revolutionary Federation parties have nominated Hayk Marutyan, Naira Zohrabyan, Zaruhi Postanjyan and Mikael Manukyan as their top candidates in the upcoming municipal elections, respectively. 

The Yerevan Society initiative and GALA party have nominated Anahit Tarkhanyan for the position.

Bright Armenia and Republic have created a bloc called Bright for the snap elections and have fielded Justice Minister Artak Zeynalyan as their mayoral candidate in the elections.