R. Hovannisian: “Let’s nominate joint candidates”
Heritage party founding leader Raffi Hovannisian today declared that to the last moment of his nomination for a parliamentary seat he did not know that Nikol Pashinyan, a senior representative of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), was going to run in the same single-mandate constituency.
During today's press conference, Mr Hovannisian said his choice fell upon constituency N7 and he decided to nominate himself as an alternative rival to the pro-government candidate [Samvel Alexanyan]. Besides, the relatives of Hovannisian's wife live in that area.
In reply to the allegations that by his nomination the Heritage leader was executing an order, Mr Hovannisian said ‘I received the order from my conscience, faith and love.' Then he advised the authors of these accusations to be cautious not to become clients themselves.
Raffi Hovannisian says it is time all candidates running in majority constituencies sat around a table and nominated a joint candidate in each constituency. Otherwise, the opposition electorate will again split over the choice of candidates.
"Hard times are awaiting us," said the Heritage leader.
At the same time, Mr Hovannisian is hopeful that on May 7 Armenians will wake up in a new Armenia.
Five candidates have been nominated in constituency 7 - Raffi Hovannisian, Nikol Pashiyan, Republican Samvel Alexanyan and non-partisan Vardan Vardanyan and Tigran Grigoryan.
