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PROSECUTOR'S ALLIES SET TO STEER CLEAR OF 2007 VOTE
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 1 2006
A recently formed political party widely linked with Prosecutor-General
Aghvan Hovsepian signaled on Wednesday its intention not to contest
next year's parliamentary elections, in a surprise move that will spark
speculation about far-reaching deals cut within Armenia's leadership.
The governing board of Association for Armenia party is scheduled
to meet on Thursday to discuss the issue. One of its top leaders,
parliament deputy Vahram Baghdasarian, told RFE/RL that he will push
for the party's pullout from the unfolding parliamentary race.
The party, which claims to have about 40,000 members, said as
recently as last summer that it intends to make a strong showing in
the elections. Levon Khachatrian, another Association for Armenia
leader close to Hovsepian, claimed that it can win them and form the
next government.
"We have no goal to win a majority [in parliament] and things
like that," countered Baghdasarian. He made the point that the only
"realistic" way of winning elections in Armenia is massive vote buying
and that he is categorically against resorting to that.
"Everyone sees what kind of mechanisms exist for winning votes,"
said Baghdasarian. "We have to decide whether we will use those
mechanisms. In a country having social problems, it is obvious how
votes are won."
"We have spoiled our people, our voters. I don't deny that," he added.
The remarks followed a weekend local election in Yerevan's Ajapnyak
district that were easily won by Hovsepian's brother Ruben. The
victory is widely seen as the result of a deal cut between the
influential prosecutor and the governing Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK) that unexpectedly decided not to field a candidate for the post
of Ajapnyak mayor.
Baghdasarian denied that the Association for Armenia's likely refusal
to participate in the parliamentary elections is part of a deal cut
with the HHK's unofficial leader, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian,
or President Robert Kocharian. He made it clear that his party
will have candidates in some of the country's 41-single mandate
constituencies. The remaining 90 seats in the Armenian parliament
will be distributed on the party list basis.
Although Hovsepian has repeatedly denied any connection with the
Association for Armenia, he is widely believed to have been behind
its launch earlier this year. The development highlighted his growing
political ambitions, with some commentators suggesting that he is
one of Kocharian's potential successors.
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 1 2006
A recently formed political party widely linked with Prosecutor-General
Aghvan Hovsepian signaled on Wednesday its intention not to contest
next year's parliamentary elections, in a surprise move that will spark
speculation about far-reaching deals cut within Armenia's leadership.
The governing board of Association for Armenia party is scheduled
to meet on Thursday to discuss the issue. One of its top leaders,
parliament deputy Vahram Baghdasarian, told RFE/RL that he will push
for the party's pullout from the unfolding parliamentary race.
The party, which claims to have about 40,000 members, said as
recently as last summer that it intends to make a strong showing in
the elections. Levon Khachatrian, another Association for Armenia
leader close to Hovsepian, claimed that it can win them and form the
next government.
"We have no goal to win a majority [in parliament] and things
like that," countered Baghdasarian. He made the point that the only
"realistic" way of winning elections in Armenia is massive vote buying
and that he is categorically against resorting to that.
"Everyone sees what kind of mechanisms exist for winning votes,"
said Baghdasarian. "We have to decide whether we will use those
mechanisms. In a country having social problems, it is obvious how
votes are won."
"We have spoiled our people, our voters. I don't deny that," he added.
The remarks followed a weekend local election in Yerevan's Ajapnyak
district that were easily won by Hovsepian's brother Ruben. The
victory is widely seen as the result of a deal cut between the
influential prosecutor and the governing Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK) that unexpectedly decided not to field a candidate for the post
of Ajapnyak mayor.
Baghdasarian denied that the Association for Armenia's likely refusal
to participate in the parliamentary elections is part of a deal cut
with the HHK's unofficial leader, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian,
or President Robert Kocharian. He made it clear that his party
will have candidates in some of the country's 41-single mandate
constituencies. The remaining 90 seats in the Armenian parliament
will be distributed on the party list basis.
Although Hovsepian has repeatedly denied any connection with the
Association for Armenia, he is widely believed to have been behind
its launch earlier this year. The development highlighted his growing
political ambitions, with some commentators suggesting that he is
one of Kocharian's potential successors.