Tweet
ARMENIA'S RULING PARTY WINS RE-ELECTION; SERBIA FACES PRESIDENTIAL RUN-OFF
International Business Times
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/338097/20120507/elections-armenia-serbia-socialists-unemployment.htm
May 7 2012
Obscured by the monumental elections in France and Greece, two other
European nations -- Armenia and Serbia -- also held important polls
over the weekend.
The ruling Republican Party of the former Soviet republic of Armenia
gained a majority of seats in parliamentary elections held on Sunday.
Armenian president Serge Sarkisian, who enjoys good relations with
both Russia and the West, saw his party gain about 46 percent of votes
cast, while former coalition partner, the Prosperous Armenia party,
finished second with about 31 percent of the tally.
The principal opposition party, The Armenian National Congress, led by
former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, is expected to receive at least
7 percent of the vote, just enough to gain some seats in parliament.
Armenian voters are most concerned with the economy which has been
hammered by a lengthy trade blockade imposed by Turley and Azerbaijan
in connection with the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region; as
well as by the deleterious effects of the 2008-2009 global financial
crisis.
On Sunday, about 150 people were injured when gas-filled balloons
exploded during a rally for the Republican Party in the capital city
of Yerevan. Initially thought to be a politically-inspired attack,
the incident was later determined to be an accident.
MUST READ
What Now, Monsieur Hollande?
Putin Sworn In As Russian President Amidst Violent Demonstrations
Sponsorship Link Like us on Facebook
Still, the 2012 election was thankfully free of the violence that
accompanied the 2008 poll - ten people were killed then during clashes
between the police and opposition demonstrators.
Foreign monitors said the election was largely free and fair, although
there were reportedly pockets of questionable conduct, including acts
of voter fraud.
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
praised the poll as "open and peaceful," but added that there are
concerns about the "general lack of confidence in the integrity of the
[electoral] process amongst political parties and the general public."
Baroness Nicholson of the Council of Europe warned that "the [Armenian]
authorities must address this unacceptable behavior before the
presidential election next year."
Meanwhile, an election in Serbia (part of the former Yugoslavia)
will lead to a presidential run-off on May 20 between incumbent Boris
Tadic of the Democratic Party (DS) and Tomislav Nikolic of Serbian
Progressive Party (SNS).
Tadic received about 26 percent of the vote, with Nikolic getting
about 25 percent. However, as in France, the Socialists of Serbia
polled surprisingly well, grabbing 16 percent. As a result, the
Socialists may be in line to participate in a collation government.
The leader of the party, Ivica Dacic, could become the next Prime
Minister.
"We have risen from the ashes," Dacic said.
The Socialists have been out of power for 12 years since the collapse
of Slobodan Milosevic's government. Milosevic later faced war crimes
charges in The Hague in connection with the wars of the 1990s.
The European Union granted Serbia EU candidate status in March,
but Serbians are likely more concerned with the country's very high
jobless rate (24 percent) and a huge foreign debt of some 24 billion
euros ($31.5 billion).
International Business Times
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/338097/20120507/elections-armenia-serbia-socialists-unemployment.htm
May 7 2012
Obscured by the monumental elections in France and Greece, two other
European nations -- Armenia and Serbia -- also held important polls
over the weekend.
The ruling Republican Party of the former Soviet republic of Armenia
gained a majority of seats in parliamentary elections held on Sunday.
Armenian president Serge Sarkisian, who enjoys good relations with
both Russia and the West, saw his party gain about 46 percent of votes
cast, while former coalition partner, the Prosperous Armenia party,
finished second with about 31 percent of the tally.
The principal opposition party, The Armenian National Congress, led by
former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, is expected to receive at least
7 percent of the vote, just enough to gain some seats in parliament.
Armenian voters are most concerned with the economy which has been
hammered by a lengthy trade blockade imposed by Turley and Azerbaijan
in connection with the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region; as
well as by the deleterious effects of the 2008-2009 global financial
crisis.
On Sunday, about 150 people were injured when gas-filled balloons
exploded during a rally for the Republican Party in the capital city
of Yerevan. Initially thought to be a politically-inspired attack,
the incident was later determined to be an accident.
MUST READ
What Now, Monsieur Hollande?
Putin Sworn In As Russian President Amidst Violent Demonstrations
Sponsorship Link Like us on Facebook
Still, the 2012 election was thankfully free of the violence that
accompanied the 2008 poll - ten people were killed then during clashes
between the police and opposition demonstrators.
Foreign monitors said the election was largely free and fair, although
there were reportedly pockets of questionable conduct, including acts
of voter fraud.
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
praised the poll as "open and peaceful," but added that there are
concerns about the "general lack of confidence in the integrity of the
[electoral] process amongst political parties and the general public."
Baroness Nicholson of the Council of Europe warned that "the [Armenian]
authorities must address this unacceptable behavior before the
presidential election next year."
Meanwhile, an election in Serbia (part of the former Yugoslavia)
will lead to a presidential run-off on May 20 between incumbent Boris
Tadic of the Democratic Party (DS) and Tomislav Nikolic of Serbian
Progressive Party (SNS).
Tadic received about 26 percent of the vote, with Nikolic getting
about 25 percent. However, as in France, the Socialists of Serbia
polled surprisingly well, grabbing 16 percent. As a result, the
Socialists may be in line to participate in a collation government.
The leader of the party, Ivica Dacic, could become the next Prime
Minister.
"We have risen from the ashes," Dacic said.
The Socialists have been out of power for 12 years since the collapse
of Slobodan Milosevic's government. Milosevic later faced war crimes
charges in The Hague in connection with the wars of the 1990s.
The European Union granted Serbia EU candidate status in March,
but Serbians are likely more concerned with the country's very high
jobless rate (24 percent) and a huge foreign debt of some 24 billion
euros ($31.5 billion).