On March 1, Radical opposition Armenian National Congress announced its plan of actions, according to which snap presidential elections would be held this summer in Armenia. Representatives of ANC non-member parties have stated that they do not see any prerequisites for early elections, however, almost all the parties are reshuffling positions, and, generally, they seem to be getting ready for election campaigns.

“Economic issues have seriously affected Armenia, foreign transfers have decreased, Armenia’s economic counter-measures have proved to be neither dynamic nor effective. All those factors can raise public discontent. Foreign political issues, say, Armenia-Turkey negotiations and the Karabakh issue, might be another factor to cause tensions.”

On the whole, nonetheless, the situation is stable and I do not see any requisites that might lead to snap elections,” says head of OSCE Yerevan office Sergey Kapinos.

Meanwhile, Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) political party suddenly decided to start strengthening the party positions. Moreover, strengthening was expressed through firing Minister of Transport and Communication Gurgen Sargsyan and Minister of Emergency Situations Mher Shahgeldyan. The party’s governing board decided to put forward the candidature of the first deputy chief of police Armen Yeritsyan for the emergency minister’s post, and transport minister’s chair was offered to Manuk Vardanyan, former chairman of the State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre. Both candidates, it turns out, have been members of the party governing board for some time now.

Mass media started circulated rumors that this reshuffling was in fact initiated by the authorities in order to shake Orinats Yerkir’s position: in May 2009 the party was unable to enter the Yerevan City Council.

Leader of Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan made a verbal attack against its coalition partner ruling Republican Party. He stated that the government ruled by the Republicans does not react adequately to the financial crisis and instead of reducing the tax burden it’s trying to make it heavier. Tsarukyan made a reference to Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan, saying that he knows nothing about economy neither is he informed about the situation in the country.

It was symptomatic that President Serzh Sargsyan made personnel changes in his press office. His press secretary Samvel Farmanyan has been appointed director of information-analytical programs at Public TV and Radio Company. Armen Arzumanyan, who was the executive director of Public TV, came to replace him as the president’s press secretary. Opposition mass media immediately interpreted that information as election preparations. For early elections to happen it takes at least a political force enjoying extensive public support and aggressively demanding a transfer of power. ANC stated that it is planning to wait until authorities deadlock on their own, believing it is eventual due to social discontent over the worsening economic situation and/or an unacceptable settlement of the Karabakh issue. If the situation in these two spheres worsens, ANC says, early elections would be called for.