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Press Review


“By and large, Serzh Sarkisian’s political strategists have succeeded in creating the most invincible political and ideological platform for him, stripping the opposition of its main argument: new and progressive ideas,” writes Lragir.am. “The progressive ideas -- pro-Western orientation, European integration, democratization, civil society engagement -- have been usurped by the current authorities. That has driven Serzh Sarkisian’s rivals into the regressive and marginal camp. They have automatically become supporters of the unglamorous Eurasian Union, enemies of the civil society and the like.”

“Sarkisian has indeed accumulated a whole load of revolutionary ideas and he now needs to prove that he is a great reformer, rather than a greater manipulator,” continues the online publication. “And he will have to do so every day and every hour. Too much has been promised to too many people for their fulfillment.”

“That the 2013 presidential elections have been turned into a theater is now beyond doubt,” writes 1in.am. “But even that theatrical show can create a somewhat new situation on Armenia’s political stage. Life will certainly not end with the 2013 elections … Whatever status quo is formed as a result of the presidential elections it will be a temporary phenomenon through which Serzh Sarkisian will seek to solve his key issue: to clear the field ahead of the 2017 and 2018 elections and keep the situation under control as much as possible.”

“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” complains that ordinary Armenian citizens are again being “left out of political processes.” “Both when the government’s [presidential] candidate faced a strong opposition candidate and now that there is no such candidate the society has had no decisive role,” says the paper. “In this sense, almost nothing has changed in Armenia. It’s just that with its indifference and apathetic stance the society has imposed its rules of the game not on the regime but the opposition, authorizing the latter not to participate in the elections and to leave Serzh Sarkisian alone with his inglorious victory.”

Vartan Sedrakian, a little-known scholar running for president, tells “Haykakan Zhamanak” that he has more than enough money to spend on the election campaign. “I had planned on spending about $ 2 million but the law does not allow that much [campaign spending,]” he says. “So I will have to confine myself to 100 million drams ($250,000).”

(Tigran Avetisian)
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