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HOVANNISIAN CEDES ELECTION COMMISSION SEATS TO OPPOSITION CANDIDATES
By Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Jan 25 2008
Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian has confirmed through aides his
decision to cede hundreds of seats in election commissions reserved for
his Zharangutyun (Heritage) party to allies of opposition presidential
candidates Levon Ter-Petrosian and Vazgen Manukian.
Under Armenia's Election Code, President Robert Kocharian and the five
parties represented in parliament, including Zharangutyun, each appoint
one member of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and its more than
1,920 district and precinct-level divisions. Two other commission seats
are controlled by a government body overseeing the Armenian judiciary.
The code also stipulates that only those individuals who attend
special courses organized by the CEC can become commission members.
Zharangutyun says that only about 1,000 of its members and supporters
have obtained licenses required for sitting on the bodies that will
conduct the February 19 presidential election.
The party, which joined the National Assembly last summer, says it has
lacked time to have more election workers trained by the CEC. It has
offered other opposition parties, which have held commission seats
in the past, to fill the vacancies.
Zharangutyun representatives said late Thursday that three of those
parties have already submitted the names of their members with CEC
licenses. According to Hovsep Khurshudian, the Zharangutyun spokesman,
92 of them are affiliated with Manukian's National Democratic Union
(AZhM). He said the People's and Hanrapetutyun parties supporting
Ter-Petrosian are ready to appoint many more commission members but
did not give any numbers.
"We will cover the entire territory of the republic with our joint
efforts," said Zaruhi Postanjian, a Zharangutyun parliamentarian.
"That is, licensed members representing us and those two forces will
be appointed to all commissions."
Smbat Ayvazian, a senior Hanrapetutyun member, told RFE/RL that the
Ter-Petrosian camp is ready to nominate as many commission members
as necessary. "Numerous citizens with necessary licenses are applying
to us, but we select only our party comrades," he said.
Despite sharing its commission quota with other opposition forces,
Hovannisian has indicated that he will not endorse any of the
opposition contenders before the first round of voting. Khurshudian
reiterated that Zharangutyun will likely throw its weight behind
one of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian's challengers only before a
possible run-off.
In Khurshudian's words, Zharangutyun believes no presidential
candidate, including Sarkisian, is popular enough to score a
first-round victory. "If that happens, it will be obvious to us that
the elections were rigged," he said.
By Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Jan 25 2008
Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian has confirmed through aides his
decision to cede hundreds of seats in election commissions reserved for
his Zharangutyun (Heritage) party to allies of opposition presidential
candidates Levon Ter-Petrosian and Vazgen Manukian.
Under Armenia's Election Code, President Robert Kocharian and the five
parties represented in parliament, including Zharangutyun, each appoint
one member of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and its more than
1,920 district and precinct-level divisions. Two other commission seats
are controlled by a government body overseeing the Armenian judiciary.
The code also stipulates that only those individuals who attend
special courses organized by the CEC can become commission members.
Zharangutyun says that only about 1,000 of its members and supporters
have obtained licenses required for sitting on the bodies that will
conduct the February 19 presidential election.
The party, which joined the National Assembly last summer, says it has
lacked time to have more election workers trained by the CEC. It has
offered other opposition parties, which have held commission seats
in the past, to fill the vacancies.
Zharangutyun representatives said late Thursday that three of those
parties have already submitted the names of their members with CEC
licenses. According to Hovsep Khurshudian, the Zharangutyun spokesman,
92 of them are affiliated with Manukian's National Democratic Union
(AZhM). He said the People's and Hanrapetutyun parties supporting
Ter-Petrosian are ready to appoint many more commission members but
did not give any numbers.
"We will cover the entire territory of the republic with our joint
efforts," said Zaruhi Postanjian, a Zharangutyun parliamentarian.
"That is, licensed members representing us and those two forces will
be appointed to all commissions."
Smbat Ayvazian, a senior Hanrapetutyun member, told RFE/RL that the
Ter-Petrosian camp is ready to nominate as many commission members
as necessary. "Numerous citizens with necessary licenses are applying
to us, but we select only our party comrades," he said.
Despite sharing its commission quota with other opposition forces,
Hovannisian has indicated that he will not endorse any of the
opposition contenders before the first round of voting. Khurshudian
reiterated that Zharangutyun will likely throw its weight behind
one of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian's challengers only before a
possible run-off.
In Khurshudian's words, Zharangutyun believes no presidential
candidate, including Sarkisian, is popular enough to score a
first-round victory. "If that happens, it will be obvious to us that
the elections were rigged," he said.