Legislative in Armenia: rise of the Alliance of former President Kotcharian
Former President Kocharian at the opening of his trial in Yerevan on Monday, May 13, 2019. Vahram BAGHDASARYAN / AFP / PHOTOLURE
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Armenians are called to the polls on Sunday June 20 for early elections called seven months after Armenia's defeat against Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
Among the most serious competitors to the outgoing Prime Minister, Nikol Pachinian, former President Robert Kotcharian.
Publicity
Read more
With our special correspondent in Yerevan,
Anastasia Becchio
Upon Nikol Pashinian's arrival as head of government, Kocharian was indicted and jailed three times, but in April he was acquitted.
Today, his team is doing everything to take revenge.
Studious atmosphere in the offices of the Alliance Armenia.
The piles of leaflets, calling for a rally this Friday evening in Yerevan, are waiting to be distributed.
Robert Kotcharian's right-hand man, Victor Sogomonyan, comes out of a press conference. Faced with a
flowery-language adept
Nikol Pachinian
, who threatens to "
hit against the wall
" opposition supporters who try to illegally influence the election result, or who wields a hammer to symbolize a "
steel mandate
" popular which it says it needs to continue to govern, the Armenia bloc wants to present itself as more balanced: "
We do not use verbal violence, we do not denigrate our competitors. We conducted a campaign as we used to conduct in civilized Armenia before a populist came to power. We're pretty happy with how things turned out. Our popularity is increasing and we hope to win in the first round.
"
From 5% of voting intentions in April, the Armenia Alliance now exceeds the 20% now on the heels of Nikol Pachinian's Civil Contract.
The means deployed for the campaign by the representatives of the old regime, accused of corruption, are important.
The former president, a close friend of Vladimir Poutine, has a solid team, as political scientist Hrant Mikaélian underlines: “
He is leading a very professional campaign.
His team includes experts in public relations, communicators, good photographers: we see that they are professionals.
"
This Friday evening, Robert Kotcharian will gather his troops for the last time on the Place de la République.
Even where the revolution led by his enemy Nikol Pachinian had triumphed three years ago.
► Listen again:
Armenia: what
lies
behind the political crisis
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Armenia