Armen Badalyan: 99.9 percent of certainty that Armenian President already appointed

For the second day, the Central Election Commission (CEC) is busy with the procedure of registration of candidates for the position of President. Seven persons have submitted complete packages of necessary documents; however, the election outcome has already been predetermined. This opinion was expressed by Armen Badalyan, Armenian political analyst.

Local experts emphasize that the refusal of the leaders of the "Armenian National Congress" (ANC) and the "Prosperous Armenia" Party (PAP) to run for presidency has created the conditions for virtually competition-free election.

"Once again, the upcoming election in Armenia will not become a reflection of the people's will, and the President will be simply assigned. In my opinion, there is a 99.9-percent certainty that the Armenian President has been already assigned," Armen Badalyan said in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, commenting on the process of the election campaign.

Armen Badalyan has clarified his forecast that the victory of the incumbent President is the most probable scenario of the situation. In many ways, according to the expert's opinion, the very electorate creates the basis for such a situation, when people do not fight for their votes.

The experts treat a split among the opposition forces as one more factor that led to the situation with the predetermined outcome of the election, since the opposition is not able to compete with the authorities in the political field of Armenia.

"Gagik Tsarukyan is the only politician who could seriously fight against incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan. I do not think that during the two months prior to the election, someone in the Armenian political field will be able to generate a challenge to the ruling party," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told on December 15 by Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of Institute of Caucasus.