Open news feed Close news feed
A A

Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s words led opposition trio to uncertainty (video)

Politics
eryak1

Armenian first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s speech during the October 24 rally in Yerevan’s Liberty Square organized by the three opposition parties has led the three forces to uncertainty. “Some people demand that we make our tactics public and serve it on a tray to Serzh Sargsyan but it can never happen,” said Levon Ter-Petrosyan. As far as we know, not everyone in the opposition trio knows how the struggle will continue in the future.  Even the date of the next sitting of the three forces is not fixed. People do not know what to expect from the trio after the October 24 rally. Mikael Melkumyan, a member of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party, holds a different opinion. “2017 is the deadline. They still have 2.5 years. If they hold a constitutional referendum before that, which I think has already been delayed, things will be different. I think it will be in the second half of 2016. This means the political struggle will be very tense: I see no problem here: let the non-governing forces crystallize in the meantime, and the government will have an opportunity to improve the social and economic situation in these two and a half years if, of course, they want.” In case the situation heats up before the next parliamentary elections Mr Melkumyan hopes that the two opposing forces will avoid confrontations and will continue the struggle solely by political methods. The BHK lawmaker says various political parties and individuals, artists, non-governmental organizations have expressed their support for the movement. They are already forming headquarters of activists throughout Armenia as was promised during the rally. “We do not rule out the possibility of holding sit-ins, strikes and pickets and indoor meetings,” he said. The opposition trio no longer expects any serious changes from the acting regime. Asked why the BHK participates in the parliamentary elections in that case, Mr Melkumyan said because the parliament rejects all bills submitted by the opposition and the latter has to take its ideas to the street. “Today we demand from [Liberty] square that they [authorities] make political decisions and now we are waiting for their response,” he said. Mr Melkumyan thinks the authorities are playing for time; they do not even block the ways leading to the capital not to speed up developments. “Time will tell us everything,” he said in conclusion.