Political technologist: This election will be rigged in favor of opposition

The presidential election ended when Armenian National Movement (HAK) leader Levon Ter-Petrosian and Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian announced their decisions not to run for President. The expert on political and electoral processes Armen Badalian expressed this opinion at the meeting with journalists today.

According to him, in reality the authorities would like BHK leader Gagik Tsarukian to run in the election and be defeated. They would not like the election outcome to be predetermined two months before the election.

“After the election Serzh Sargsyan’s influence will start to wane as he has five years to serve as president… At that time HAK and BHK will enter into struggle. Five years later we will see a genuine struggle,” he noted.

In his words, some numbers will be “painted” in the February election. “Even the number of votes received by an opposition candidate will be distorted: either Raffi Hovannisian or Hrant Bagratian will be put in second place in order to show to the West that competition exists in Armenia”.