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ARMENIANS VOTE IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Xinhua General News Service
May 6, 2012 Sunday 8:40 AM EST
China
Armenians went to the polls to elect a new parliament on Sunday,
with the voting starting at 8:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) and
closing at 8:00 p.m. (1300 GMT).
Around 2.5 million people are eligible to vote in the elections,
according to the Central Election Commission.
The voting is set to be vied by the ruling Republican Party led by
President Serzh Sarkisian and the Prosperous Armenia Party led by
Gagik Tsarukian, a businessman.
President Sarkisian cast his ballot at a polling station in the
capital, saying "I voted for the progress of Armenia."
He told journalists that he hoped "things will move on peacefully
and according to the law today, tomorrow and the day afterwards."
"I think that is exactly what we need to make progress," he said.
The country's economic and social issues were in the spotlight during
the 28-day campaign that started on April 8.
Holding free and transparent elections is important for the Caucasus
nation with a population of 3.3 million, as it could result in a
wider cooperation with Europe and relaxed visa procedures from other
European countries.
The voting was the first one in the country following the presidential
elections held in February 2008, during which 10 people were killed
in a bloody violence between protesters and security forces.
An OSCE (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe)
observer from Latvia told Xinhua that no irregularities have been
found so far.
A 70-year-old pensioner who only gave her name as Gayane said she
voted "for a better economy," saying she was "optimistic" about the
next five years.
The 131-seat National Assembly is elected through a mixed system.
Ninety parliament members are elected through the proportional
system of voting where citizens vote for party lists, and the rest
are elected directly in separate constituencies.
Some 350 European and 31,000 local observers are monitoring the polls.
Preliminary results of the election are expected on May 7.
Xinhua General News Service
May 6, 2012 Sunday 8:40 AM EST
China
Armenians went to the polls to elect a new parliament on Sunday,
with the voting starting at 8:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) and
closing at 8:00 p.m. (1300 GMT).
Around 2.5 million people are eligible to vote in the elections,
according to the Central Election Commission.
The voting is set to be vied by the ruling Republican Party led by
President Serzh Sarkisian and the Prosperous Armenia Party led by
Gagik Tsarukian, a businessman.
President Sarkisian cast his ballot at a polling station in the
capital, saying "I voted for the progress of Armenia."
He told journalists that he hoped "things will move on peacefully
and according to the law today, tomorrow and the day afterwards."
"I think that is exactly what we need to make progress," he said.
The country's economic and social issues were in the spotlight during
the 28-day campaign that started on April 8.
Holding free and transparent elections is important for the Caucasus
nation with a population of 3.3 million, as it could result in a
wider cooperation with Europe and relaxed visa procedures from other
European countries.
The voting was the first one in the country following the presidential
elections held in February 2008, during which 10 people were killed
in a bloody violence between protesters and security forces.
An OSCE (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe)
observer from Latvia told Xinhua that no irregularities have been
found so far.
A 70-year-old pensioner who only gave her name as Gayane said she
voted "for a better economy," saying she was "optimistic" about the
next five years.
The 131-seat National Assembly is elected through a mixed system.
Ninety parliament members are elected through the proportional
system of voting where citizens vote for party lists, and the rest
are elected directly in separate constituencies.
Some 350 European and 31,000 local observers are monitoring the polls.
Preliminary results of the election are expected on May 7.