The great number of people at the two rallies of the 4 opposition forces (Armenian National Congress, People's Party of Armenia, Prosperous Armenia Party, Heritage Party) demonstrates that Armenia is experiencing a strong wave that seeks change of power and has all chances to succeed, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of Armenia, leader of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) said at today's rally.
Ter-Petrosyan strongly criticized all the opponents of the specified opposition forces by calling them fringe politicians and pseudo-opposition. He said that these politicians are bringing grist to the authorities' mill. "They are simply hysteria-stricken, because the power is being changed in Armenia without their help and they are ready to contribute to retention of the ruling regime", he said.
He said that this resembles the behavior of another big opposition party, which had allegedly been fighting for Armenia's independence against the Soviet power for 70 years, but in the early 90s it realized that independence could be gained without their direct participation and made a U-turn.
He added that the 4 opposition forces deliberately do not want to publish their further steps not to inform the authorities of them. He also asked the demonstrators to let the parties' leaders to work out the further steps of the opposition. The people displayed no objection. "This is our response to those who say that we act at our own discretion and do not take the people's opinion into account.
So, today we have proved that we act with the people's permission only", said Ter-Petrosyan.
He also stressed the need to hold early parliamentary and presidential elections in the republic after reformation of the electoral legislation so as to avoid electoral fraud.