The Bright Armenia (Lusavor Hayastan) party kicked off its third special congress today at Yerevan’s Armenia Marriot hotel with the refrains of Armenia’s national anthem, followed by a minute of silence in memory of the victims of last year’s war in Artsakh.

In his opening remarks, party governing council member Gevorg Gorisyan announced that Bright Armenia will field candidates in the June snap parliamentary election under the slogan – “There is an alternative. Vote!”

Bright Armenia, representing the third largest parliamentary faction, proposes to change the constitution, expanding the powers of the president and the parliament.

To improve the country’s demographic situation, the party proposes to reduce the income tax according to the number of minor family members and to provide significantly higher salaries and social guarantees for the doctors and teachers in order to increase their presence in the country’s provinces.

Bright Armenia also wants to increase social assistance to military servicemen, including housing, as well as to provide employment in the state system for those reaching retirement age. One of the party's proposals is the creation of a new military unit in Syunik together with Russia.

Davit Khazhakyan, a candidate for a member of the LHP governing council and a member of the Luys faction in Yerevan, said that parliamentary elections are necessary to get the country out of the post-war morass but that more is needed.

Edmon Marukyan, the party’s candidate for prime minister, said he receives reports that the number of Azerbaijani troops on Armenian soil is increasing and that all border issues must be discussed but not under military duress.

"We are making it known all over the world that there can be no situation where we can discuss anything with rifles pointed at us. the rifle in our heads. Shooting is the last resort. We are coming out of a very difficult war, but now we must do it so that we can remove the enemy from Armenia’s border without firing," Marukyan said.

He hinted that the June election might be postponed given the continuing border situation.

Marukyan said the party would not enter a governing coalition with the current government or any party led by previous government officials.