In six months we will see a new system of political competition, which will be almost as important as the previous nationwide elections. In the nearest future the NA will adopt the law on mayor’s election by second reading because there will be local government elections in autumn. According to this law, the mayor of Yerevan is to be elected by the city council of Yerevan (65 members). In order to be elected the candidates have to get majority of the total number of those votes. If during the city council elections any party gets more than 50% of the city council places, then the person who is in the first place in that list automatically is considered to be the elected mayor. Yerevan will have a separate budget, and the future mayor, who is also going to be the head of the civic protection service of Yerevan with a big number of rights, hence will have more influence on the police and the services in charge of protection of the civic order. It means that the future mayor will be a very serious political figure. Almost the part of the population of Armenia lives in Yerevan, and they are the most active part of the society. In consideration of the big number of votes given to the opposition during the recent presidential election it is clear that the opposition has big chances to get places in the city council. Definitely the authorities are concerned about this. In order to have majority in this body the authorities may participate in that election with a joint common proportional list consisting of the coalition political powers (RPA, ARF, LS and PA). However, it is not clear yet who will be the first person in that list. Both the opposition and governmental coalition member parties are holding negotiations for the above mentioned purpose.
