Opposition's victory in local elections was a tactical step by the authorities - Gagik Jhangiryan (video)
Local elections are more often organized with the use of executive and administrative levers where relations between in-laws and friends can determine the results of the elections, says Gagik Jhangiryan, a lawmaker representing the Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction in parliament. “Heads of communities and cities elected in local by-elections will serve the authorities in the same way as they serve the leaders of their parties. So, local elections are not an exception, and we need not pin great hopes on them. Nor do they present a political choice, no matter how much we try to consider them political,” Mr. Jhangiryan said. Local elections are due to be held in Lori, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Shirak, Vayots Dzor and Syunik marzes on October 2. Before that, on September 18, several communities in Araghatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Syunik and Tavush elected village headmen. These elections differed from the previous ones in the sense that in many communities self-nominated candidates and even opposition candidates won their contenders. The HAK representative says those were only tactical steps by the authorities. “Didn’t they say that a new culture would be entrenched by the new Constitution and Electoral Code? Here we saw the first grains, but you know, if we are reasonable people and politicians, we should understand that given the current situation of local budgets, which are scarce, non-existent or near zero, all these communities will appear under the jurisdiction of local governors or deputy governors in a month or two. Will the new Electoral Code finally contribute to fair and free elections? Mr. Jhangiryan said, “I do not want to use epithets or pompous words, but it was an important step. Let us hope that it will change public attitudes. I think the problem is that the emphasis is laid on post-election processes based on the agreement [between the opposition and government], rather than on electoral and pre- election processes.
