Expert compares Karen Karapetyan's phenomenon with that of Man Utd and BVB (video)
“I have got the impression that we are in a cloakroom of a store, rather than in the run-up to the parliamentary elections,” a Yerevan-based expert in political technologies said on March 7 when assessing the campaign slogans and videos of the political forces running in the April 2 vote. Karen Kocharyan says on the whole the campaign did not generate great public excitement. Only the video of Reincarnation band caused some excitement in the country. On the one hand, it stirred up feelings of dissatisfaction in social networks, on the other hand, political circles began to discuss the fact that no one else but [Prime Minister] Karen Karapetyan is seen in the Republican’s election campaign video. “In fact, this is a serious message. Republicans are trying to assure voters that the changes initiated by Karapetyan-led government will continue,” Mr Kocharyan said. Likewise, Gagik Tsarukyan caries on his shoulders the campaign burden of the alliance that he heads. One can see only Tsarukyan in the bloc’s video. The same is true about the campaign video of the Rule of Law Party (OEK) where only [OEK leader] Artur Baghdasaryan is speaking. The Free Democrats and Armenian National Congress (HAK) have four put four political figures in their videos, while the Yelk alliance shows its three leaders. “Although Nikol Pashinyan comes 3rd on the bloc’s list, he is the key figure as the most radical, popular and charismatic figure.” The opposition alliance led by Seyran Ohanyan, Raffi Hovannisyan and Vartan Oskanian is trying to attack Yelk’s electorate which is more radical ‘but it will be difficult for them to convince people that they are more radical than the Yelk.’ Karen Kocharyan says it is wrong that the political forces running for Parliament do not want to publish the name of their prime minister. “When a country switches to a parliamentary system of government, the prime minister becomes the first figure in the country. Only three forces – HHK, OEK and Free Democrats – have given the name of their PM. Our people give importance to the personality of a leader. Karen Karapetyan’s phenomenon also works here. In their talks in taxis and with neighbours people seem to be concluding a deal with their own souls. Should I vote for the HHK? I shall, if Karapetyan is with them. The phenomenon of Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund works here. We did not have fans of either teams in Armenia but as soon as Heno (Henrik Mkhitaryan) began to play for these teams, everyone became their fans,” said the expert.
