August 20, 2009 - 17:48 AMT
Armenian political system needs recovery
Yerevan Mayor elections were followed by the formation of a certain kind of structure which was to serve for country's interests, but everything proved useless. That was an additional proof that country is governed by monopolistic system of local self-government which does not consider people's opinion and interests. None of promises were kept, ARFD parliamentarian Artsvik Minasyan told today a news conference in Yerevan. According to him, Armenian political system needs recovery.

"Two forces' involvement in Elders' Council cannot unfortunately contribute to town's sustainable development," Minasyan said, adding that system had turned into a structure pursuing its own interests.

Armenian parliamentarian finds that people should assist in Aldermen's work. «We should think of what to do to make the Council an important force,» he noted.

First elections to Yerevan Elders' Council took place on May 31 with participation of Republican Party of Armenia (Gagik Beglaryan), «Prosperous Armenia» (Health Minister Harutyun Kushkyan), «Orinats Yerkir» (MP Heghine Bisharyan) and ARF-Dashnakstutyun (Artsvik Minasyan). Extra-parliamentary factions running for election were People's Party (Tigran Karapetyan), Armenian Labor Social Party (Movses Shahverdyan) and Armenian National Congress (Levon Ter-Petrosyan).

The following parties overcame the 7% barrier - RPA, «Prosperous Armenia» and ANC. Mandates were distributed as follows: RPA - 35, «Prosperous Armenia» - 17, ANC - 13. As a result, RPA representative Gagik Beglaryan was elected as Mayor of Yerevan.