VOTE 2013: DISSIDENT MEMBER SPEAKS OF CRISIS WITHIN OPPOSITION BLOC

VOTE 2013 | 15.01.13 | 10:31

A member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) has
acknowledged that the bloc is going through a “political crisis”
caused by mistakes of its leadership.

Petros Makeyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Monday that the
governing body of his Democratic Fatherland party, one of more than a
dozen opposition groups making up the ANC, had discussed the situation
and proposed a plan to overcome the situation at a weekend meeting.

The dissident member of the bloc said, however, he would not publicize
the document before it was discussed with other ANC member groups.

Earlier, several media alleged discontent among some ANC members about
how Levon Zurabyan, ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s right-hand man,
is coordinating the alliance’s activities.

In the interview, however, Makeyan refused either confirm or deny that
his party, too, had expressed its position on Zurabyan’s leadership
in the document.

Unlike the ANC, which last month decided not to participate in any form
in the February presidential election, Democratic Fatherland decided
to give the three opposition candidates – Heritage Party leader Raffi
Hovannisian, Liberty Party leader Hrant Bagratyan (who suspended his
membership in the ANC after being nominated to run for president)
and National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan –
a chance to decide on the “single candidate” among themselves, who,
the opposition party said, would enjoy its endorsement in the election
campaign.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress