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Armenian Parliamentary Vote A Test For President Serge Sarkisian

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  • Armenian Parliamentary Vote A Test For President Serge Sarkisian

    Huffington Post
    May 6 2012


    Armenia Elections: Armenian Parliamentary Vote A Test For President
    Serge Sarkisian

    By AVET DEMOURIAN 05/06/12 01:20 PM ET

    YEREVAN, Armenia - Armenians voted for a new parliament on Sunday in
    an election that the nation's president hoped would give him a
    majority among the lawmakers.

    President Serge Sarkisian's Republican Party was expected to win the
    election, but it was aiming for more than half of the seats to avoid
    having to form a coalition. The party held 62 of the 131 seats in the
    outgoing parliament, just shy of a majority.

    The voting also was seen as a test of public support for Sarkisian,
    who comes up for re-election next year. Results were expected Monday.

    Armenia is the smallest of the former Soviet republics, with about 3.3
    million people, but more than double that number of Armenians live
    abroad. The largest diasporas are in Russia and the United States.

    The Republican Party's main coalition partner, Prosperous Armenia led
    by businessman Gagik Tsarukian, grew increasingly critical of the
    president's party during the campaign in an effort to win enough votes
    to force Sarkisian to share power, not only in parliament but also in
    the Cabinet.

    The opposition Armenian National Congress, led by former President
    Levon Ter-Petrosian, also was expected to take seats in parliament.

    In casting his ballot early in the day, Ter-Petrosian said he expected
    the election would be conducted fairly and if so he would accept the
    results. But after polls closed, he said the opposition planned to
    protest what he said were violations and might take to the streets.

    Ter-Petrosian's supporters rallied in Yerevan following the February
    2008 presidential election, claiming the vote won by Sarkisian was
    flawed. The protests turned violent in early March, when clashes with
    police left 10 people dead and more than 250 injured.

    International observers from the Organization for Security and
    Cooperation in Europe said the Armenian government has taken steps in
    recent years to foster free and fair elections, including changes to
    electoral laws and the introduction of a new online election
    monitoring program.


    Just under 2.5 million people were eligible to vote in the
    parliamentary election, which was contested by nine parties or blocs.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/06/armenia-elections-2012_n_1489976.html


    From: Baghdasarian
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