YEREVAN (A.W.)—Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Parliamentary Faction Secretary and ARF Supreme Body of Armenia member Aghvan Vardanyan said that the ARF continues to work as an opposition party, even after signing the co-operation agreement with the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).
Aghvan Vardanyan (Photo: Photolure)
“This status is not new for us. We [the ARF] have been a radical opposition party; we have been a part of the ruling government; we were once again an opposition party; but we have never avoided the work to solve issues in a way that yields balanced results. We have never been a populist party; we have never believed that problems can be solved in a day,” Vardanyan said.
When asked about the party’s reputation after joining the RPA through a co-operation agreement, Vardanyan said that it is not something people should be worried about. “All the political parties [in Armenia] have problems today, since the general public does not have confidence in the political system itself,” he said.
According to Vardanyan, the ARF has never shied away from responsibility. “I would be happy if our [the ARF’s] ministers’ work is constantly under the microscope, because we have never shied away from responsibility. We believe that political powers can function both as an opposition and a part of the government,” he said.
Speaking about the ARF’s participation in upcoming local elections in September and October, Vardanyan said that the party has been working hard with regional organizations and have been exploring the possibilities of having both ARF and non-ARF candidates in various regions. “For me it is important that the candidate is caring, competent, ready to work, and someone who really cares about the community—not necessarily a party member,” Vardanyan said, adding that the ARF will, in fact, be participating in elections in the two major cities of Gyumri and Vanadzor with their own candidates.
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: Vardanyan: The ARF’s Work Remains the Same