Elections of local self-governing bodies took place in Vanadzor and Gyumri on October 2, 2016, which were held for the first time in the history of proportional electoral system. The new electoral system, however, caused a political crisis both in Gyumri and Vanadzor. According to the results of the elections, four parties - the Republican Party of Armenia, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, "Bright Armenia" and the "Armenian Revival" - appeared in Vanadzor City Council. Although the Republican Party was the first in the number of votes received, the mandates in the city council were not enough for RPA candidate Mamikon Aslanyan to become a mayor. During the first sitting of the newly elected council of Vanadzor, the RPA had formed an alliance with the ARF, and the "Bright Armenia" party, which was in the second place as a result of the elections, signed a memorandum of cooperation with the "Prosperous Armenia" and "Armenian Revival" one of the provisions of which was to defend Christ Maroukyan, the candidate for the head of the community council, who was the leader of the Council of Elders' Council at the first session of the newly elected council of Vanadzor.

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