From December 3 to 6, 2020, the “Media Advocate” Initiative followed online media reports on the joint candidate for the post of RA Prime Minister, Vazgen Manukyan’s personality and activities. 10 news agencies were monitored: Hraparak.am, Yerkir.am, Aravot.com, News.am, Tert.am, Panorama.am, Aysor.am, Azatutyun.am, Armlur.am and Yerevan.Today
According to the monitoring, 252 articles were published on 10 selected websites regarding Vazgen Manukyan. 43 articles of which were negative, 81 were positive and 128 were neutral.
As a result of the monitoring, it was registered that positive articles published on the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, joint candidate of the opposition political forces Vazgen Manukyan, prevail.
RPA Deputy Chairman Armen Ashotyan wrote on his Facebook page: “The contradistinction of conspirator-scoundrel and Vazgen Manukyan is a fake thesis of the government’s propaganda. There is no alternative to scoundrel’s dismissal from the point of view of maintaining a state, so other option simply does not exist. The “scoundrel vs people” real dichotomy is very well understood by the first president of Armenia, although he himself used the scheme of contradistinction of individuals. Let me remind you that on October 8, 2007, he met with Vazgen Manukyan to restore personal relations.”
According to the press, Vazgen Manukyan was in fact the most compromising candidate, whose person was agreed upon by almost all political opposition forces. Representatives of the opposition forces mention in their speech that Vazgen Manukyan may be the head of the government of national agreement, there will be no snap elections for at least a year, and Vazgen Manukyan will form a professional government.
