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Decision 2013: Opposition candidate sets new deadline for `power handover'
http://armenianow.com/vote_2013/44058/armvote13_raffi_hovannisian_rally_constitutional_c ourt
VOTE 2013 | 02.03.13 | 19:30
Photolure
Raffi Hovannisian, the official runner-up in last week's presidential
election, has extended his `deadline' to top Armenian officials to
start `handing over power to the people' by challenging them to accept
his invitation and attend his next rally in Yerevan early next week.
In addressing thousands of supporters in Yerevan's Liberty Square on
Saturday, Hovannisian said he would send formal letters to President
Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan (no relation to the
head of state) and Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan to come to the next
opposition gathering scheduled for March 5 and `answer' for all the
`unlawfulness and injustices'.
Enlarge Photo
At the same time, he indicated that he would not mind meeting any of
these officials in their own offices, as, he stressed, these offices
already belong to the people.
Hovannisian, who, according to the Central Election Commission, polled
close to 37 percent of the vote in the February 18 presidential
election, is disputing the reelection of incumbent President Sargsyan,
who officially garnered nearly 59 percent of the vote.
He, however, has not yet decided whether he should seek the annulment
of the election outcome at the Constitutional Court.
Addressing his supporters at the rally the opposition leader said
specialists of his team will consider the matter over the weekend and
he will announce his decision on Monday.
`If we do decide to turn to the Constitutional Court, however, it will
be the last chance for its members to exercise constitution law and
come clean before the people,' stressed the politician.
Earlier on Saturday, Hovannisian met with Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini,
the head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, which gave a
mostly positive early evaluation to the election, reportedly to
discuss matters concerning the elections and the post-election
situation in Armenia.
OSCE/ODIHR has now published its third intermediate report, which
contains much more critical assessments regarding the authorities'
handling of the election and the post-election period than its two
previous reports.
According to OSCE/ODIHR observers, in particular, an analysis of
official results shows a correlation between a very high turnout and
the number of votes for the incumbent. `This raises concerns regarding
the confidence over the integrity of the electoral process,' said the
mission in its report.
OSCE/ODIHR also noted that `since 20 February, Mr. Hovannisian has
staged a series of protest rallies in Yerevan and several regions,
which were joined by some opposition parties and politicians. The
gatherings were peaceful and the authorities did not interfere, but
the police stated that they are illegal and could lead to
administrative liability.' It also criticized some broadcast media for
showing a `selective approach' in their post-election coverage of
political events, with a noticeable tendency to limit views critical
of the conduct of the election.
http://armenianow.com/vote_2013/44058/armvote13_raffi_hovannisian_rally_constitutional_c ourt
VOTE 2013 | 02.03.13 | 19:30
Photolure
Raffi Hovannisian, the official runner-up in last week's presidential
election, has extended his `deadline' to top Armenian officials to
start `handing over power to the people' by challenging them to accept
his invitation and attend his next rally in Yerevan early next week.
In addressing thousands of supporters in Yerevan's Liberty Square on
Saturday, Hovannisian said he would send formal letters to President
Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan (no relation to the
head of state) and Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan to come to the next
opposition gathering scheduled for March 5 and `answer' for all the
`unlawfulness and injustices'.
Enlarge Photo
At the same time, he indicated that he would not mind meeting any of
these officials in their own offices, as, he stressed, these offices
already belong to the people.
Hovannisian, who, according to the Central Election Commission, polled
close to 37 percent of the vote in the February 18 presidential
election, is disputing the reelection of incumbent President Sargsyan,
who officially garnered nearly 59 percent of the vote.
He, however, has not yet decided whether he should seek the annulment
of the election outcome at the Constitutional Court.
Addressing his supporters at the rally the opposition leader said
specialists of his team will consider the matter over the weekend and
he will announce his decision on Monday.
`If we do decide to turn to the Constitutional Court, however, it will
be the last chance for its members to exercise constitution law and
come clean before the people,' stressed the politician.
Earlier on Saturday, Hovannisian met with Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini,
the head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, which gave a
mostly positive early evaluation to the election, reportedly to
discuss matters concerning the elections and the post-election
situation in Armenia.
OSCE/ODIHR has now published its third intermediate report, which
contains much more critical assessments regarding the authorities'
handling of the election and the post-election period than its two
previous reports.
According to OSCE/ODIHR observers, in particular, an analysis of
official results shows a correlation between a very high turnout and
the number of votes for the incumbent. `This raises concerns regarding
the confidence over the integrity of the electoral process,' said the
mission in its report.
OSCE/ODIHR also noted that `since 20 February, Mr. Hovannisian has
staged a series of protest rallies in Yerevan and several regions,
which were joined by some opposition parties and politicians. The
gatherings were peaceful and the authorities did not interfere, but
the police stated that they are illegal and could lead to
administrative liability.' It also criticized some broadcast media for
showing a `selective approach' in their post-election coverage of
political events, with a noticeable tendency to limit views critical
of the conduct of the election.