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UNOPPOSED: RULING PARTY MEMBERS MEET LITTLE CHALLENGE IN SUNDAY'S LOCAL POLLS
POLITICS | 16.03.15 | 12:19
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Members and supporters of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
again prevailed in most of the 33 communities of the country where
local government elections were held on Sunday. Just like in most
other recent elections, very few opposition candidates participated
in the elections.
Once again current heads of communities were the main candidates
seeking reelection, with most of them representing the RPA. Only in
two communities - the village of Sarakap in the province of Shirak
and Ohanavan in the province of Aragatsotn, RPA candidates faced
competition from Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) members.
In Ohanavan self-nominated PAP member, current head of the village
preserved his position, receiving 704 votes, and the RPA candidate,
nonpartisan Edgar Hayrapetyan got 615 votes, and the other candidate,
again self-nominated nonpartisan Khachatur Sisakyan received 288 votes.
In the community of Vardashen of the Ararat province self-nominated
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) candidate, current head of
the village was reelected, receiving 209 votes.
It is noteworthy that in the village of Daranak of the Gegharkunik
province the current village mayor celebrated his victory with a
difference of just three votes. The RPA member head of the village
received 53 votes, and his opponent, self-nominated Vahan Margaryan
- 50.
The city of Armavir in the Armavir province also held election on
Sunday, where they were voting for a mayor. In the beginning four RPA
members and two nonpartisan candidates were nominated for this post,
which promised a heated competition, however later three RPA members
and two nonpartisan candidates withdrew their participation, leaving
current mayor Ruben Khlghatyan alone in the fight. According to the
Central Election Commission (CEC), he received 8,169 votes and will
continue as mayor.
Recently the opposition sees it pointless and a waste of resources to
participating in local government elections, while the ruling party
usually accuses the opposition in not participating in the elections.
Still in January 2013 President Serzh Sargsyan in an interview with
RFE/RL's Armenian Service said that presidential elections start with
local government elections where the respective party is represented
in the local government as a leader or a head of council, then -
in parliamentary elections, and finally - in presidential elections.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/61458/armenia_local_elections_republican_party_leaders
POLITICS | 16.03.15 | 12:19
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Members and supporters of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
again prevailed in most of the 33 communities of the country where
local government elections were held on Sunday. Just like in most
other recent elections, very few opposition candidates participated
in the elections.
Once again current heads of communities were the main candidates
seeking reelection, with most of them representing the RPA. Only in
two communities - the village of Sarakap in the province of Shirak
and Ohanavan in the province of Aragatsotn, RPA candidates faced
competition from Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) members.
In Ohanavan self-nominated PAP member, current head of the village
preserved his position, receiving 704 votes, and the RPA candidate,
nonpartisan Edgar Hayrapetyan got 615 votes, and the other candidate,
again self-nominated nonpartisan Khachatur Sisakyan received 288 votes.
In the community of Vardashen of the Ararat province self-nominated
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) candidate, current head of
the village was reelected, receiving 209 votes.
It is noteworthy that in the village of Daranak of the Gegharkunik
province the current village mayor celebrated his victory with a
difference of just three votes. The RPA member head of the village
received 53 votes, and his opponent, self-nominated Vahan Margaryan
- 50.
The city of Armavir in the Armavir province also held election on
Sunday, where they were voting for a mayor. In the beginning four RPA
members and two nonpartisan candidates were nominated for this post,
which promised a heated competition, however later three RPA members
and two nonpartisan candidates withdrew their participation, leaving
current mayor Ruben Khlghatyan alone in the fight. According to the
Central Election Commission (CEC), he received 8,169 votes and will
continue as mayor.
Recently the opposition sees it pointless and a waste of resources to
participating in local government elections, while the ruling party
usually accuses the opposition in not participating in the elections.
Still in January 2013 President Serzh Sargsyan in an interview with
RFE/RL's Armenian Service said that presidential elections start with
local government elections where the respective party is represented
in the local government as a leader or a head of council, then -
in parliamentary elections, and finally - in presidential elections.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/61458/armenia_local_elections_republican_party_leaders