Before the upcoming elections many high state officials that were nonpartisan joined different political parties in order to be able to get positions after the elections too. As for the partisan officials, they tried to get better “party places” so that they can be elected in the parliament or get good positions.
After finding places in parties they already imagine being in the parliament and adopting rules. For instance, the governor (marzpet) of Vayots-Dzor region, Samvel Sargsyan wants to be elected in the parliament. To note, Mr. Sargsyan used to be a member of “Legal State” party and was appointed in the governor’s position just after when the LS resigned from the coalition and became opposition. Samvel Sargsyan is one of those LS former members that after Arthur Baghdasaryan’s resignation dropped their memberships and left the party complaining that they want to stay in the government. Later he joined the ARP. Now Mr. Sargsyan wants to be elected in Precinct #39 of Vayots-Dzor region under majoritarian system.
“I have been working in this region for over 11 years; I know the people and their problems well” says the future MP, “the governor’s job is very difficult and needs much responsibility, but governors don’t have enough administrative tools to finish programs. I think I will be able to continue my programs with the new governor too. I know that the collaboration between the governor and deputies may create good opportunities to do their job well. Besides that, I want to help the people in the region to succeed and be involved in the local government structure too”.
In this precinct as well as PA member Sergey Bagratyan and LS member Viktor Martirosyan have been nominated. By the way, this region is one of the rare regions where the ARP and PA have competing candidates.
Despite Samvel Sargsyan, the governor of Ararat region does not want to be elected in the parliament. “I want to continue working in the executive branch” says A. Sargsyan, “I may try in 5-10 years, however I don’t want it yet. I will continue my work in the government. I like my job, I like the people and I will work in the governor’s position as much as the government wants”.
Alik Sargsyan has worked in the governor’s position for seven years and was nonpartisan. However, recently he joined the ARP. Concerning this decision he says, “I have been advocating the ARP when working in the governor’s position during these years. My chiefs, i.e. the prime minister and the minister of regional development are ARP members too. Thus, I have decided to join this party. Being nonpartisan makes it more difficult for me to solve problems and create an adequate environment in the region than being backed by the party”.
Even though these two ARP members want to continue with their career in different bodies, both they believe that the upcoming elections will be organized in fair and democratic conditions. Yesterday both of them promised in the “Mirror” club that they would do their best to make sure the elections are transparent at least in their regions. To note, the “Millennium Challenges” program covers Vayots-Dzor region too. The governor of this region may have heard the announcements of the chiefs of the MC corporation that they will stop their programs if the elections in Armenia don’t take place. According to the MC program the U.S. shall provide $236mln for Armenia during these 5 years. $4mln out of this sum has already been transferred. This money was mainly spent on offices and other small costs. As for the costs intended for road and water reconstruction programs, that money will be transferred after the parliamentary elections only (if the elections are fair). Accordingly, the governors definitely don’t want to be punished and will do what they have promised.
“The president has strictly warned us that in case of violations they will punish the heads of the responsible bodies, in our case – the governors and the regional management minister” says Alik Sargsyan, “We should do our best to make sure that the elections are fair, democratic and transparent so that they don’t criticize us after the elections”.
The governors don’t believe the rumors that the outcome of the parliamentary elections has been decided already and there will be violations are true. They say that the political powers that think so are too weak and have nothing else to do. These two ARP members truly believe that their party is advocated much in their regions and will be given most number of votes during the elections. Both of them think that the only big competitor for them is the PA. However, they think that there aren’t any conflicts or contradictions between the two parties.