September 30, 2011 - 15:53 AMT
Kocharian unlikely to be nominated as president – RPA member

A member of ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is skeptical over the possibility for the 2nd Armenian President Robert Kocharian to be nominated as a candidate at oncoming presidential election.

“According to Electoral Code, presidential candidate must be nominated by parties. I can think of no such party, for, based on coalition memorandum, RPA, Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir parties must jointly nominate a candidate,” Rafik Petrosyan said.

“RPA members are all for supporting the candidacy of current president Serzh Sargsyan. As for other parties, they’re not strong enough to nominate and support their own candidate,” he stressed.

Commenting on the chances for oppositional ARD Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD) to support Kocharian, the MP noted, “ARFD are smart enough to realize they won’t be able to win as many votes as RPA, Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir taken together. I don’t think ARFD will risk that.”

“Armenia has no prerequisites for repeating Russia’s scenario. Though able to return into politics, Kocharian is unlikely to be running for president,” Petrosyan said.