YEREVAN, JUNE 5, ARMENPRESS: Paruyr Hayrikian, leader of a minor political grouping Self-Determination Union (SDU) has become the second Armenian citizen to officially announce that he is going to run for 2003 presidential elections.
Hayrikian said the decision on nominating him as a contender for the highest post was taken by SDU congress. Speaking to a news conference today, Hayrikian said he decided to stand for Armenia’s presidency as “there is an electorate who wants me to compete for president’s post.”
“If there was not such a demand I would have asked the SDU congress to relive me from this heavy burden, ” Hayrikian said, claiming that some 40 intellectuals and “20 of them are very well-known men” have expressed their endorsement to him. He also said that some businessmen have started money raising to support his campaign.
In a reference to an expected debate on starting impeachment proceedings against presented Kocharian, forced by the opposition minority after it has detected a legislative loophole allowing it, Hayrikian said there was nothing “terrible” in it, as launching or failing impeachment proceedings is a component of a political life, but added that the opposition just wants to capitalize on it, describing the motion as a political ploy.
Hayrikian, also unveiled today that eight political parties have agreed to come up with a statement that would call for raising the weight of parties and would also condemn a drive by certain parliament deputies who want to change the correlation of parliament seats contested under majoritarian (by constituencies) and proportional electoral systems in favor of the first.
The SDU will be joined by the Ramkavar Azatakan party (HRAK, Liberal Democratic), Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Republican party, the National Unity, the 21-st Century, Liberty and Socialist Armenia. The 21-st Century and the Liberty are splinters from the former ruling Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh).
Hayrikian said the final text of the statement is yet to be reconciled. Hayrikian also expressed concerns with as he said” individualizing the political life of Armenia, instead of raising the importance of political parties.”
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