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TASHNAQ, MARCH 8 AND BEIRUT I
Hayeon Lee
NowLebanon
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArti cleDetails.aspx?ID=87286
March 3 2009
Lebanon
The suspense over how the Armenians would vote in the upcoming
parliamentary elections was eased somewhat when the demographic's most
popular political party, the Tashnaq, recently announced its alliance
with MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc after refusing Future
Movement leader Saad Hariri's offer to form an independent Armenian
parliamentary bloc. This move could translate into a fiercer battle
among Christian leaders in the Beirut I district than previously
expected.
NOW Lebanon hit the streets of the Beirut I district to ask voters why
they think Tashnaq rejected Hariri's offer, how they feel about it, and
how this might influence the elections' outcome in their constituency.
Roula, 30, Mar Mitr
I am not into politics, but I could tell you that Hariri is on the
wrong track. Hariri does not want Tashnaq... Hariri is no good. We
don't love Hariri. The Aounists will win, not because of Tashnaq,
but with the help of Tashnaq.
Bassam, 28, Rmeil, Achrafieh
I think Tashnaq supports March 8 for political reasons... They were
with Aoun already. Before, [they were with Murr] but they were never
with Hariri. I don't think it's surprising. Ironically, Tashnaq
became the one who will decide who will win in a way, especially in
the Metn... They are the [swing] vote... In Beirut I, there are lots
of Armenians, but I don't know how many are supporters of Tashnaq,
but I heard that in Lebanon, in general, Tashnaq has 80% support
[among Armenians]. So I think it will be good for Aoun...
We don't know [who will win] in Beirut I because there was never
an election since 1992. There were elections, but the Christians
didn't vote, most of them... There is a big influence of Kataeb and
the Lebanese Forces; they are not small here either... I don't know
really. I am excited to know who will have more
Eli, 27, Achrafieh
[Tashnaq is siding with March 8] because it is not a national
party. Its management is now in Teheran. So now we have two groups,
March 8 and March 14, and March 8 is with Teheran, so Tashnaq is
voting with March 8... This is why Tashnaq will not accept Hariri's
offer or anyone else's... They will not vote for [Michel Murr]... I'm
sad about [Tashnaq's decision] because they're a Christian party, but
they don't act like it because Christians are with March 14... [Aoun]
is just Christian in his ID card... But Tashnaq will lose [in Beirut I]
because they are much bigger in the Metn.
Nicholas, 36, Achrafieh
I don't like Tashnaq because it supports March 8, and because March
8 likes Syrians and Iranians... Tashnaq refused Hariri because they
had problems with Amin Gemayel and Kataeb, and Hariri supports Amin
Gemayel. Amin Gemayel insulted Tashnaq during the Metn elections
after Pierre Gemayel's assassination, and Tashnaq did not forget
this... But Tashnaq has no guarantee to win because Hariri has more
supporters.... [In Beirut I, as well] Hariri will win.
Jihad, 22, Achrafieh
I don't know politics. I vote just for my mom. And I vote. I think
I'll vote for March 14.
Hayeon Lee
NowLebanon
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArti cleDetails.aspx?ID=87286
March 3 2009
Lebanon
The suspense over how the Armenians would vote in the upcoming
parliamentary elections was eased somewhat when the demographic's most
popular political party, the Tashnaq, recently announced its alliance
with MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc after refusing Future
Movement leader Saad Hariri's offer to form an independent Armenian
parliamentary bloc. This move could translate into a fiercer battle
among Christian leaders in the Beirut I district than previously
expected.
NOW Lebanon hit the streets of the Beirut I district to ask voters why
they think Tashnaq rejected Hariri's offer, how they feel about it, and
how this might influence the elections' outcome in their constituency.
Roula, 30, Mar Mitr
I am not into politics, but I could tell you that Hariri is on the
wrong track. Hariri does not want Tashnaq... Hariri is no good. We
don't love Hariri. The Aounists will win, not because of Tashnaq,
but with the help of Tashnaq.
Bassam, 28, Rmeil, Achrafieh
I think Tashnaq supports March 8 for political reasons... They were
with Aoun already. Before, [they were with Murr] but they were never
with Hariri. I don't think it's surprising. Ironically, Tashnaq
became the one who will decide who will win in a way, especially in
the Metn... They are the [swing] vote... In Beirut I, there are lots
of Armenians, but I don't know how many are supporters of Tashnaq,
but I heard that in Lebanon, in general, Tashnaq has 80% support
[among Armenians]. So I think it will be good for Aoun...
We don't know [who will win] in Beirut I because there was never
an election since 1992. There were elections, but the Christians
didn't vote, most of them... There is a big influence of Kataeb and
the Lebanese Forces; they are not small here either... I don't know
really. I am excited to know who will have more
Eli, 27, Achrafieh
[Tashnaq is siding with March 8] because it is not a national
party. Its management is now in Teheran. So now we have two groups,
March 8 and March 14, and March 8 is with Teheran, so Tashnaq is
voting with March 8... This is why Tashnaq will not accept Hariri's
offer or anyone else's... They will not vote for [Michel Murr]... I'm
sad about [Tashnaq's decision] because they're a Christian party, but
they don't act like it because Christians are with March 14... [Aoun]
is just Christian in his ID card... But Tashnaq will lose [in Beirut I]
because they are much bigger in the Metn.
Nicholas, 36, Achrafieh
I don't like Tashnaq because it supports March 8, and because March
8 likes Syrians and Iranians... Tashnaq refused Hariri because they
had problems with Amin Gemayel and Kataeb, and Hariri supports Amin
Gemayel. Amin Gemayel insulted Tashnaq during the Metn elections
after Pierre Gemayel's assassination, and Tashnaq did not forget
this... But Tashnaq has no guarantee to win because Hariri has more
supporters.... [In Beirut I, as well] Hariri will win.
Jihad, 22, Achrafieh
I don't know politics. I vote just for my mom. And I vote. I think
I'll vote for March 14.