Narineh Mkrtchyan wanted to run in the February 18 presidential election in Armenia. Her name never appeared on the ballot because she didn’t pay the required 8 million AMD ($20,000 filing fee.

On March 5 Armenia’s Constitutional Court rejected her petition seeking to appeal the decision of the Central Electoral Commission. (Mkrtchyan is the President of the National Press Club)

Given that the Constitutional Court rejected your appeal, what will you do now?

My struggle didn’t start with the Court nor will it end with it. I filed the appeal to shed light on the illegality of the 8 million AMD filing fee.

We are now thinking about petitioning the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). We are discussing the best way to draft the petition so that the ECHR accepts it for review. Naturally, a political struggle must be launched parallel to this.

Today, various opposition forces and individuals are trying to rally around Raffi Hovannisian. What is your position on this? Do you see yourself joining them?

People are rallying around Hovannisian based on his victory in the election. As a result, he has become the axis around which the opposition and the popular political protest are coalescing.

But I have certain reservations regarding Raffi Hovannisian’s political conduct. In this struggle I do not see any political, let alone revolutionary, approach. But the situation on the ground is revolutionary. His stance is not in synch with the demands of the people. As a torchbearer of social rebellion and since I see this as the only path at present, given that the regime has ruled out any alternative, I do not think I will back Hovannisian right now.

So what must be done, at this moment, for the opposition and the public to join together?

Political leaders must grasp the demands of the people. The society wants change, radical and comprehensive change. The first step must be regime change. At this moment, however, even before the true election results are verified, they are talking about contesting the upcoming Yerevan Municipal Council election. This is a great retreat and what the regime actually wants. The regime wants to direct attention away from the presidential election and onto the municipal contest.

Political leaders must not only take the demands of the people into consideration, but also lead society. They must have a plan of action, and I don’t see it. They must at least see a few steps ahead. Otherwise, society itself must choose what path it will take to effect change.

Who are your potential supporters? Who would have voted for you had you been on the February 18 ballot?

I believe that the intelligentsia would have been at the core of my following. The intelligentsia has yet to speak out. I can’t say more given that I was stripped of the possibility to fully gauge who my voting bloc is.

If I had the opportunity to participate in the presidential race, the situation would have been totally different. I am steadfast and saw the path to change. I understood the expectations of society. Now, the situation is quite complex for the regime. A new presidential election cannot be ruled out.

But presidential elections are only held every five years. What will you do in the interim to gain greater public recognition?

That’s the dream of Serzh Sargsyan, for elections to be held every five years. I am not prepared to make that dream come true for him. On the contrary, I will do everything to prevent it.

As to the methods of struggle, they are numerous and varied. I’m not a beginner in the political arena. I have covered politics for the past twenty years and now what’s involved. But I am a beginner from the perspective of political ideas and values. And this is a positive when it comes to socio-political processes. Today, the political field needs new faces, new and lofty values and principles.

Nevertheless, don’t you need greater public recognition? You might have years of journalistic experience covering politics, but you are a newcomer as a political player.

All it takes is to keep the TV airwaves open to all, so that there is a diversity of opinion. In this age of YouTube, there are alternative avenues to getting your message to a wide audience.

What needs to be done to conduct the snap presidential elections you mentioned before?

The first prerequisite already exists. Society is ready for change. The election results showed that the people have rejected Serzh Sargsyan’s political line and not want to see him as president any longer. Given that he has failed to justify the hopes of the people, Serzh must leave.

Second, Armenia is facing a complicated reality. Our state bodies are totally static and do not defend the interests of the people. In fact, they work against the people’s interests. A recent example of this is the Constitutional Court. It does not understand its role and significance in public and government life.

Third, we have the terrible rates of emigration. They will grow even more if change isn’t achieved.

Fourth, is the corruption that spreads like a skin over the political system. We must put a stop to all these problems for if not, the consequences will be devastating for Armenia.

Are there political forces, individuals, with whom you are preparing to cooperate?

There are individuals, I won’t give names, with which I am soon planning to meet with to discuss these problems and the steps needed to put the country on the path of revolution. They are those individuals who see things like I do, wholly or for the most part.