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Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 20 2012
Armenia: the logic of internal political struggle
Author: Susanna Petrosian, Yerevan, exclusively to VK
On September 9, the Ararat, Armavir, Shirak, Lori and Syunik regions
of Armenia will hold elections for local governmental bodies. The
election campaign will begin on August 22 and run until September 7.
In all the communities, several people put forward their nominations.
So, in cities of Sisian, Kapan and Meghri in Syunik region five, four,
and three candidates for mayor came forward respectively. In Kajaran,
Agarak and Dastakert two candidates are registered; the same number of
candidates intend to struggle for the post of mayor of Echmiadzin. In
the second and third largest cities of Armenia, respectively, in
Gyumri and Vanadzor, elections in which are considered to be central,
five people will fight for the post of mayor, including members of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), one of the most influential
forces in the country today, the party "Prosperous Armenia" and the
opposition party "Dashnaktsutiun". Note that the current mayor of
Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, did not apply for registration. The RPA
previously stated that it would not support the candidature of
Ghukasian.
The most active position is taken up by the ruling Republican Party
which nominated its representatives or expressed support to
independent candidates in all communities. Vice Chairman of the
Republican Party, MP Galust Sahakyan stressed the critical importance
of the elections: "The Republican Party has always taken the most
active part in the elections to the local governmental bodies, because
the whole essence of the socio-economic life of the country is based
on the work of the community." Meanwhile, the Republican Party accuses
the opposition of passivity on the issue of participation in the
elections. "For communicating with the people we must first take an
active part in the elections to local authorities, and not to think
only of the parliamentary and presidential elections. Opposition
constantly brags before the upcoming elections to local authorities,
make different suggestions, but always avoids the elections to the
most important link in the relationship with the people - to local
government, " - Sahakyan says.
Indeed, apart from "Dashnaktsutiun", which has the necessary financial
resources and party structures in almost all communities, other forces
of opposition such as Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the
"Heritage" do not participate in the election on September 9.
"Dashnaktsutiun" supports an unaffiliated candidate in one community
and, in addition, nominates its candidates in 11 communities,
including cities of Gyumri, Sisian, Kapan.
According to deputy chairman of "Heritage" Armen Martirosyan, the
problems the country faces require a much higher level of solutions,
rather than the level of local authorities: "The elections to local
authorities cannot implement freely competitive environment in the
economy, the rule of law in the administration of the country, ensure
transparency in tax and customs authorities, change the laws, provide
tax benefits to small and medium business etc. The elections to local
government are mainly designed to solve daily problems."
Some members of the ANC declared that the ANC would not participate in
the regular activities aimed at legitimizing the authorities,
especially since the election outcome is pre-determined. ANC
coordinator Levon Zurabyan stated that in the upcoming elections ANC
will support political forces that are not part of the ruling
coalition, including "Prosperous Armenia". That is, the ANC intends,
like in the parliamentary elections, only to struggle against the
ruling Republican Party. Most likely, the ANC will not take part in
the elections because of limited financial resources.
In turn, board member of the PPA, deputy of the National Assembly
Tigran Urikhanian stressed that the PAP is open to any constructive
cooperation, if it aims at the protection of law and the rights of
voters and candidates: "If Armenians are interested in it, we can
constructively cooperate with other forces without preconditions. "
Most likely, the passivity of the opposition will be one of the few
distinguishing characteristics of these elections to the local
government, which, according to the incoming signals, will be held
according to the thumb scheme in which the main link will be presented
by administrative resources. Media have disseminated information about
the intervention of Director of Kajaran copper-molybdenum factory
Maxim Hakobyan in the elections of the mayor supporting the mayor in
action Vardan Gevorgyan.
But more important here is the way in which the outcome of the
September elections will affect the presidential elections scheduled
for February 2013. Elections to local authorities can be regarded as a
rehearsal for the presidential election, but only to a certain extent.
These elections are held in early September, almost six months before
the presidential elections. Many experts believe that the main
political intrigues are expected in October or November. Recent
history of Armenia shows that for both political parties and the
public parliamentary and particularly presidential elections are the
key political events. Strengthening of local authorities is one of the
key objectives of the ruling administration, but Armenia has its own
logic of political struggle, the apogee of which remains the
presidential elections. They cannot be held without surprises for
voters, and in particular for the authorities.
Such "pre-election surprise", but rather a headache for the government
in February 1998, was the former first secretary of the Communist
Party of Armenia Karen Demirchyan. The similar situation existed in
the fall of 2007: when seemingly nothing could disturb the serene
political atmosphere, suddenly, the first President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan entered the political arena, after 10 years of silence.
Although in both cases the administrative resource clearly worked in
favor of the current government, due to the experience and credibility
amongst the population of these two politicians, the political
situation and the configuration of the political field radically
changed. Given the course of the parliamentary elections on May 6, we
should not exclude another "pre-election surprise" at this time. Thus,
not the election to local government but the next "pre-election
surprise" in the fall will determine the future political processes,
including the presidential election.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/30413.html
Aug 20 2012
Armenia: the logic of internal political struggle
Author: Susanna Petrosian, Yerevan, exclusively to VK
On September 9, the Ararat, Armavir, Shirak, Lori and Syunik regions
of Armenia will hold elections for local governmental bodies. The
election campaign will begin on August 22 and run until September 7.
In all the communities, several people put forward their nominations.
So, in cities of Sisian, Kapan and Meghri in Syunik region five, four,
and three candidates for mayor came forward respectively. In Kajaran,
Agarak and Dastakert two candidates are registered; the same number of
candidates intend to struggle for the post of mayor of Echmiadzin. In
the second and third largest cities of Armenia, respectively, in
Gyumri and Vanadzor, elections in which are considered to be central,
five people will fight for the post of mayor, including members of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), one of the most influential
forces in the country today, the party "Prosperous Armenia" and the
opposition party "Dashnaktsutiun". Note that the current mayor of
Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, did not apply for registration. The RPA
previously stated that it would not support the candidature of
Ghukasian.
The most active position is taken up by the ruling Republican Party
which nominated its representatives or expressed support to
independent candidates in all communities. Vice Chairman of the
Republican Party, MP Galust Sahakyan stressed the critical importance
of the elections: "The Republican Party has always taken the most
active part in the elections to the local governmental bodies, because
the whole essence of the socio-economic life of the country is based
on the work of the community." Meanwhile, the Republican Party accuses
the opposition of passivity on the issue of participation in the
elections. "For communicating with the people we must first take an
active part in the elections to local authorities, and not to think
only of the parliamentary and presidential elections. Opposition
constantly brags before the upcoming elections to local authorities,
make different suggestions, but always avoids the elections to the
most important link in the relationship with the people - to local
government, " - Sahakyan says.
Indeed, apart from "Dashnaktsutiun", which has the necessary financial
resources and party structures in almost all communities, other forces
of opposition such as Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the
"Heritage" do not participate in the election on September 9.
"Dashnaktsutiun" supports an unaffiliated candidate in one community
and, in addition, nominates its candidates in 11 communities,
including cities of Gyumri, Sisian, Kapan.
According to deputy chairman of "Heritage" Armen Martirosyan, the
problems the country faces require a much higher level of solutions,
rather than the level of local authorities: "The elections to local
authorities cannot implement freely competitive environment in the
economy, the rule of law in the administration of the country, ensure
transparency in tax and customs authorities, change the laws, provide
tax benefits to small and medium business etc. The elections to local
government are mainly designed to solve daily problems."
Some members of the ANC declared that the ANC would not participate in
the regular activities aimed at legitimizing the authorities,
especially since the election outcome is pre-determined. ANC
coordinator Levon Zurabyan stated that in the upcoming elections ANC
will support political forces that are not part of the ruling
coalition, including "Prosperous Armenia". That is, the ANC intends,
like in the parliamentary elections, only to struggle against the
ruling Republican Party. Most likely, the ANC will not take part in
the elections because of limited financial resources.
In turn, board member of the PPA, deputy of the National Assembly
Tigran Urikhanian stressed that the PAP is open to any constructive
cooperation, if it aims at the protection of law and the rights of
voters and candidates: "If Armenians are interested in it, we can
constructively cooperate with other forces without preconditions. "
Most likely, the passivity of the opposition will be one of the few
distinguishing characteristics of these elections to the local
government, which, according to the incoming signals, will be held
according to the thumb scheme in which the main link will be presented
by administrative resources. Media have disseminated information about
the intervention of Director of Kajaran copper-molybdenum factory
Maxim Hakobyan in the elections of the mayor supporting the mayor in
action Vardan Gevorgyan.
But more important here is the way in which the outcome of the
September elections will affect the presidential elections scheduled
for February 2013. Elections to local authorities can be regarded as a
rehearsal for the presidential election, but only to a certain extent.
These elections are held in early September, almost six months before
the presidential elections. Many experts believe that the main
political intrigues are expected in October or November. Recent
history of Armenia shows that for both political parties and the
public parliamentary and particularly presidential elections are the
key political events. Strengthening of local authorities is one of the
key objectives of the ruling administration, but Armenia has its own
logic of political struggle, the apogee of which remains the
presidential elections. They cannot be held without surprises for
voters, and in particular for the authorities.
Such "pre-election surprise", but rather a headache for the government
in February 1998, was the former first secretary of the Communist
Party of Armenia Karen Demirchyan. The similar situation existed in
the fall of 2007: when seemingly nothing could disturb the serene
political atmosphere, suddenly, the first President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan entered the political arena, after 10 years of silence.
Although in both cases the administrative resource clearly worked in
favor of the current government, due to the experience and credibility
amongst the population of these two politicians, the political
situation and the configuration of the political field radically
changed. Given the course of the parliamentary elections on May 6, we
should not exclude another "pre-election surprise" at this time. Thus,
not the election to local government but the next "pre-election
surprise" in the fall will determine the future political processes,
including the presidential election.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/30413.html