Armenian Patchwork

Ter-Petrosyan to run for president, and more…

October 27th, 2007 by anush

The hope of the people gathered on Freedom Square on 26 October to cheer for Levon Ter-Petrosyan came true as he announced that he will run for presidency again in 2008. The joint rally of oppositional leaders Aram Sargsyan, Stepan Demirchyan and first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan gathered around 10,000 people, enough to cover the whole square. A simultaneous concert half and hour away from the Freedom Square was a contrast to this event.

People were handed flags and brochures saying “No to Serzh Sargsyan!” who is the prime minister and, as many think, the next Armenian president.

Leader of the People’s Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan and leader of the Republic party Aram Sargsyan were the first to speak, reminding people also about the events on 27 October 1999 when several government leaders were killed in the parliament.

The crowd cheered and revealed the reason why they were there when Levon Ter-Petrosyan of the Pan-Armenian National Movement stepped towards the microphone. Ter-Petrosyan spoke about the situation in the county and the government, and announced his intention to take part in the 2008 presidential election.

Despite the number of people present I could hardly see any youth among the crowd, and here is where they were. At the same when the rally began, at 1700, the Voske Ashun (Golden Autumn) concert began in the Vazgen Sargsyan stadium, which is said to have been organized by the ruling Republican Party.

The concert featuring practically all of Armenian pop stars was also distinguished by giving away lots of mobile phones and cameras to lucky ticket numbers.

There were not only young people at the concert, but of all ages, and so many that when I arrived, believe it or not, I was exactly the one who bought the last ticket, but did not have to do that because right then everyone was let in for free.

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