ALSP will not hold rallies
Leader of the Armenian Labor Socialist Party Movses Shahverdyan believes that his party will cross the 7% threshold in the upcoming city council elections, but the votes will not offiically be announced.
Leader of the Armenian Labor Socialist Party Movses Shahverdyan sat down to give an interview to "A1+" before the upcoming elections.
How are you planning the campaign?
We are definitely not going to hold rallies, but we will hold outdoor meetings. We are going to get in touch with the people regardless of how many people show up. We are really going to try to understand their problems and suggest solutions to the current issues.
Why aren't you going to hold rallies?
-First, we are not a party that holds rallies. The only time we held a rally was during the 1998 presidential elections for Karen Demirchyan. Frankly, I don't think that we have enough resources for holding rallies. We will prefer working with media outlets and communicate with people thorugh radio, television, newspapers, conferences and outdoor meetings.
What are the main points in your pre-electoral platform?
-It is obvious that the name of our party means that the platform is going to differ from the rest. The main point in our platform will be based on the propositions of our party. The council must take on serious responsibilities, such as discussing issues and finding solutions and must be held accountable to citizens of Yerevan.
What is the first thing that you would do if elected mayor?
-I don't know if I will become mayor or not, but my main goal is not to sit in the big chair, but to have our political party have its say in Armenia's political field. That is mainly what we have to explain to our voters so that they can understand that their votes are for a concrete ideology and the plans that we will propose. The important thing for us is to implement the propositions of our party. The first thing that the mayor elect must do is to make sure that citizens of Yerevan wake up to see a different environment. People must psychologically feel a difference. Of course, it is wrong to say that all communal issues will be solved in a day, but the people must at least feel relaxed.
Are you unsure about whether you will become mayor?
-I have been in politics my entire life and we are very realistic. We know very well that it is impossible in such a situation. Even if the majortiy of people vote for us, those votes will not be officially announced.
You mentioned that your party will not be able to keep your votes even if people vote for you. Why?
-The problem is that the commissions count the votes, but we don't have any representative in the commissions. The most we can have are proxies. We know very well that the people don't trust the commissions and that everything is done by the commissions. If the commissions really work well and honestly, we will have a better picture of the elections. I attach importance to the work of the commissions from that angle.
Will you fight for your votes if they are "stolen"?
-I generally avoid such sharp expressions. It is not because I am afraid but rather because I want to form a new political culture with our participation, to eradicate the custom of stealing votes and so that expression will not be used.
What don't you like about Yerevan today?
-I love Yerevan as a city. What I don't like and what I can't understand is our psychological complexities. There are problems in other cities as well, but people smile more and are more relaxed. I don't like to see people feel psychologically pressured.
-Who is to blame for that?
-We are all to blame.
Which party do you consider your main competitor?
-All parties are equal competitors.
How much money are you planning to spend during these elections?
-We are currently in the process of calculations and I can't make a final statement. However, we have always made minimal expenses. We don't place too much emphasis on expenditures and don't belive that you have to spend large amounts of money to reach great heights.
How was your pre-electoral fund created?
-Our fund will open these next couple of days and it will be funded through our own means and the transfers made by our followers and party members.
Interview by Susanna Poghosyan
