Barev Yerevan Bloc will win the May 5 municipal elections, the leader of the New Armenia Movement and Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian told journalists on Monday.
He urged the opposition to forget their narrow party interests and to vote for the bloc. "If the elections are fair but none of the runners secures more than 40% of votes, the opposition will consolidate and the next mayor of Yerevan will be a nonpartisan politician," Hovannisian said.
As the "godfather" of Barev Yerevan he will support the candidacy of Armen Martirosyan. "Were this moment not so crucial for Armenia, I could well vote for Vahagn Khachatryan from the Armenian National Congress, Armen Rustamyan from the ARFD or even for Vartan Oskanian from Prosperous Armenia, but now I will not do it," Hovannisian said.
A survey held by the Armenian Sociological Association among 1,000 people in Yerevan has shown that on May 5 the ruling Republican Party of Armenia may secure 48.3% of the votes, Prosperous Armenia 18.1%, Barev Yerevan Bloc 7.4%, Armenian National Congress 4.4%, Orinats Yerkir 4.2%, ARFD 2.2%. The turnout will be 60-80%.
The Armenian Office of Gallup International Association has questioned 1,066 people, who have given 41% to the RPA, 14.5% to Prosperous Armenia, 7.9% to Barev Yerevan Bloc, 3.7% to Orinats Yerkir, 2.9% to Armenian National Congress, 3.1% to ARFD, 0.3% to Arakelutyun Party.