Karapetyan says withdrawal of 105 Strong Armenia candidates is part of alliance’s ‘secret plan’
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Strong Armenia alliance leader Samvel Karapetyan has commented on the withdrawal of 105 parliamentary candidates from the alliance’s electoral list, describing the move as part of the bloc’s political strategy.
Speaking to reporters on July 9, Karapetyan was asked why 105 candidates on the alliance’s electoral list had submitted withdrawal requests.
He replied that the move was part of the alliance’s “secret plan.
”Earlier, Karapetyan had said that the alliance had a secret plan to bring about a change of government in Armenia. Asked whether the candidates who withdrew could be considered unreliable members of the team, Karapetyan said:
“They are all our teammates and remain our teammates. They have all withstood the pressure, so they cannot be considered unreliable. This is our political strategy.”
Earlier, 105 candidates on the Strong Armenia alliance’s electoral list submitted withdrawal requests to Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC).
At a meeting on July 8, the CEC annulled their registrations on the basis of those requests.
According to the results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections held on June 7, the new National Assembly will comprise the Civil Contract party, which secured a parliamentary majority and will form the government, the Strong Armenia alliance, and the Armenia alliance. In the 9th convocation of the National Assembly, Civil Contract will hold 64 seats, the Strong Armenia alliance 29 seats, and the Armenia alliance 12 seats.