Vahan Hovannisian Resigns

The Armenian Observer comments on reports that ARF-D presidential candidate Vahan Hovannisian has resigned as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Hovannisian’s resignation probably comes as no surprise to many people who have long seen a contradiction between the ARF-D’s oppositional stance in the election and its role in government.

However, Hovannisian says his resignation is a personal decision and reflects the pre-election atmosphere in the country as well as concerns about voting irregularities and falsification in support of the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan. However, the veteran politician also takes the opportunity to lash out at the previous authorities in the form of Levon Ter-Petrossian who is currently staging protest demonstrations in Yerevan.

“I tried to persuade our citizens that the victory is possible. I failed to do it. In the whole course of the pre-election struggle there was an atmosphere of hatred and intolerance, intimidation and threats. It could not but influence the very Election Day,” the statement says.

“I make an appeal for us to be quiet and restrained. Those that today have been trying to go by the way of rebellion, should remember and realize their crimes and the disaster they have brought over our people, roughly faking the presidential elections in 1996, unbridling a self-improving machine of electoral violations that nobody has managed to stop to date. However, it is not going to be like that forever. And I urge all of you to get prepared for our victory in a self-confident way,” that’s how Vahan Hovhannisyan has addressed the people.

Photo: © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008