Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

[KarotheGreat]

Parties
Republican party: they are a centrist right party and their ideology is a national conservatism. However in reality they are a party of people bound around the president and most don't even belief in their own ideology. Seems to be one of the biggest problems in Armenia where the parties are build around a couple of individuals and that also leads me to the second largest party in Armenia.
PAP: Prosperous Armenian Party: this is the personal party of Dodi Gago, the only party that has the right name in my opinion. They are liberal conservatives, like the RPA they are also a centrist right party.
Rule of Law party: A centrist political party the fourth largest one in the parliament. They are part of the government together with the PAP and the RPA.
ARF (dashnk) are a leftist national party, the third largest party in the National assembly right now, in the past they were part of the government coalition but broke off because of the Turkish borer issue.
Last party is the Heritage party, a liberal party, the smallest party in the NA they together with the ARF form the opposition.
There are also 19 independents in the NA that don't belong to any party.

Last we have the ANC, an off-parliamentary opposition force, led by the first President of Armenia LTP.

The biggest problem with the parties in Armenia is that the parties are more less build around strongmen and not the ideology, this can be seen in the RPA, PAP and the ANC.

More will follow, but let us start the discussion and the predictions for the next election.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

Armenian opposition MP will not be in proportional election list - newspaper

YEREVAN. – Serious changes are expected in the proportional election list—for the upcoming National Assembly elections—of the parliamentary opposition Heritage Party, Yerkir daily writes.

“Some are bewildered that in the case of a bloc with [opposition] Free Democrats [Party], which is very likely, some Heritage members could be out of the game. There are disagreements within Heritage on the matter of forming a bloc, and that is why the matter is delayed so much. Some are confident that they can surmount the five-percent threshold without a bloc, whereas the more realists see the block as the only way to overcome the threshold. According to our information, the Party’s proportional [election] list is more or less discussed. Our sources claim that [Heritage MP] Zaruhi Postanjyan will no longer be in the list. The supporting party does not like her demeanor too much,” Yerkir writes.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

One Armenian MP - businessman to be replaced with another

January 29, 2012 | 12:21

GAVAR. - In the 22nd electoral district in Gavar, Armenia, MP from ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), owner of Eurostan Uyut company Manvel Badeyan will also put his candidacy by the majoritarian system, the MP himself told the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The MP confessed that the nomination by the majoritarian system was also his proposal.

Badeyan informed that he has been proposed to put his candidacy.

To note another well-known businessman, MP from RPA had been elected from that district, but we were not able to contact him as he is outside Armenia currently.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

8 Armenian political parties propose proportional election system

January 30, 2012 | 10:47

YEREVAN. – Eight Armenian political parties issued a statement whereby they propose a change in the Electoral Code toward passing to a 100-percent proportional election list, and, also, to reduce the election bond to up to eighty times of the minimum monthly salary, instead of the current eight-thousand times.

The parties which signed under this statement are as follows:

Motherland Party

Democratic Party of Armenia

Progressive United Communist Party of Armenia

United Armenians Party

“Haykandukht” Traditional Democratic Party

Socialist Party of Armenia

“Women of the Armenian World”

Fatherland Party

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

Armenian opposition decides to run in elections with united bloc

January 30, 2012 | 14:29

YEREVAN. – The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) had heated discussions, in the past several weeks, with respect to its strategy for the upcoming parliamentary elections, ANC Central Office Coordinator Levon Zurabyan stated during a press conference on Monday.

“The Congress came to prove that we reach consensus despite the disagreements. The eighteen political parties prioritize the establishment of democracy in Armenia to their political interests,” he said.

And on behalf of the Congress’ eighteen parties, Levon Zurabyan read its respective statement. “The forces, which form a part of ANC, decide to run in the elections with an election bloc, making this become yet another platform for expressing distrust toward [President] Serzh Sargsyan and establishing the constitutional order,” ANC’s statement specifically reads.

The question I have is why don't they form a new party? Because right now they have become one party and every one of the parties have given up their freedom and independence. I would applaud the fact that they would form one party and run on issues and not look how much Sargsyan sucks!
Armenia has too many political parties, hotels, churches and singers!

RPA member: it isn’t time yet to launch election campaigns

January 30, 2012 - 14:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is in no hurry to launch its election campaign due to managing the situation and keeping up exerting its political power, an RPA member said.

“RPA, as an ideological party with long-term commitments, has always developed its programs in accordance with the country’s internal and external resources,” Artak Zakaryan said, adding that it’s not time yet to launch election campaigns.

RPA member further denied rumors that employees in different governmental agencies are forced to join the party immediately.

“The process of joining RPA is carried out in compliance with the law,” Mr. Zakaryan concluded

Now I am wondering what is the Republican party waiting for to launch their campaign? The more time they campaign the more votes they will get, that should be not to hard to understand seems to me.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

Zurabyan warns media outlets not to spread false information
05:50 pm | Today | Politics

Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan says it is pointless to speak about extraordinary parliamentary elections at present. However, early presidential elections remain on the agenda of the opposition bloc. The ANC Coordinator says the parliamentary elections should enable them to hold snap presidential elections.

Mr. Zurabyan says the disagreement between the two coalition parties -Republican Party of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia Party - is further deepening.

"The PAP is not going to obey the RPA which seeks to rig the elections as quietly as possible, without making much fuss," he said, confirming the bloc's readiness to cooperate with all political forces against election fraud.

Speaking about the proportional list of the Armenian National Congress, Levon Zurabyan said, "Those who participated in the establishment and strengthening of the national movement will be involved in the list."
According to the ANC coordinator, some media outlets have been spreading false information about the bloc, saying some of the alliance leaders have demanded seats in parliament.

"If this continues, we will name the information agencies that spread the false information," the ANC coordinator said.
In conclusion, Mr. Zurabyan said that the ANC will probably discuss its proportional list during its sitting on Wednesday.

So the fighters for the rights of the people do not like freedom of the press, the horror. This ones again shows that Levon is no different when it comes to corruption or anything else to the other parties. When will a real opposition rise in Armenia?

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

I was MP once, I attended no session – Armenian opposition member – newspaper

January 31, 2012 | 09:20

YEREVAN. - In an interview with 168 Zham daily, Armenian opposition’s Republic Party Chairman Aram Sargsyan stated: “Those people who master those activities must carry out activities in the legislative body. I do not consider myself appropriate for these activities. I consider myself to be more a man of industry, executive power, and I work in this domain with more pleasure. I was [National Assembly] NA MP once, and I did not attend any [NA] session. If I do not accept that the parliament is formed genuinely and fairly, if I see that there are people who have stolen votes, it would be displeasing for me to be in one place with them.”

Is it me or does the ANC love to use excuses? It seems that this bafoon was as bad as the people who are in power right now. So why should we trust you guys to get back in power? That is what I keep wondering!

Armenian parliament’s 20-year staff member is dismissed for 2-day absence from work – newspaper

January 31, 2012 | 09:44

YEREVAN. – Armenian National Assembly (NA) Speaker Samvel Nikoyan continues to consistently free himself from the associates of former NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, Haykakan Zhamanak daily writes.

NA Public Relations Department Chief Gohar Poghosyan is relieved of her duties. She was dismissed for a 2-day absence from work after the New Year holidays. And a service inquiry was launched at NA in this connection. Poghosyan was working at NA for nearly twenty years, Haykakan Zhamanak writes.

Is it me or does this article imply that a person can leave her job for two days and then expect to have her job when she comes back? The thing is not all facts are know right now, but from the looks of it good riddance!

Armenia’s National Self-Determination Union to run in elections on its own

January 31, 2012 | 13:15

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s National Self-Determination Union (NSU) will run on its own in the upcoming parliamentary elections, NSU Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan stated during a press conference on Tuesday.

Hayrikyan is extremely disappointed by Armenia’s political parties because “human rights are not a priority for most parties.”

“Listening to the calls of numerous citizens, NSU will run in the parliamentary elections,” Hayrikyan noted. He added that receiving 51 percent of the votes would have been ideal for them, but this is possible solely in the case of contending with a bloc, whereas the parties have not responded to the perfect democratic model he had proposed.

OOoh look an other party are they also going to build a new hotel now?

Armenia’s ruling party does not wish to descend to opposition member’s level

January 31, 2012 | 13:23

YEREVAN. - The ruling coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Mkrtich Minasyan leaves for the conscience of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) Coordinator Levon Zurabyan, the latter’s statement that RPA is the party of plunderers who are atop kleptocracy. Minasyan informed about this during a press conference on Tuesday.

In his words, this is a political technology which is unacceptable for him. Minasyan did not wish to say anything more, since, according to him, in that case he would be similar to Zurabyan.

In his turn, ANC-member People’s Party of Armenia Secretary Grigor Harutyunyan stated that a criminal and an oligarchic system, violations, and falsified elections should not be tolerated.

Armenian parliament’s committee to discuss possibility of hearings on proportional system

January 31, 2012 | 15:58

YEREVAN. – Armenian parliament’s standing committee on state and legal affairs will hold a session on February 1 during which the proposal of the parliament’s three factions- Heritage, ARF and Prosperous Armenia will be discussed, committee’s chairman Davit Harutyunyan told the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

To note, Heritage, Prosperous Armenia and ARF Dashnaktsutyun parties came up with a joint proposal to hold hearings on the question of changing to 100 percent proportional system.

Commenting on the proposal Davit Harutyunyan mentioned that he is against the form of the proposal.

“Different models have their negative and positive sides. I thing the current model is not bad at all,” he said.

Davit Harutyunyan is confident that the National Assembly will not adopt the legislative initiative.

[Mos]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

There's a lot of tension in the ruling coalition as Dodi Gago's party may be preparing for Kocharian's return, thus not support the Republicans.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

Well it seems that PAP has now two factions, one that wants to stay with the RPA (take the safe route) the other faction wants to move on their own and plunge of the cliff.

Armenia’s former FM could choose other ruling coalition partner – coalition MP

February 01, 2012 | 12:13

YEREVAN. – During this difficult period for the entire globe, Armenia’s ruling coalition forces were able to maintain the relative stability, and if there would be a need to sign another memorandum, there is nothing bad in that, the coalition’s Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP Vardan Bostanjyan stated during a press conference on Wednesday. “It is not condemnable to sign any document for the country’s development, stability, and for similar objectives,” Bostanjyan added.

Reflecting on the inclusion of businessmen in PAP’s list of nominees for the upcoming parliamentary elections, he said the businessmen lawfully conduct their businesses, and that they have merit in the region. So, as per the MP, the citizens of Armenia must decide whether they are needed.

Vardan Bostanjyan also noted that the coalition will nominate its candidates on the basis of mutual accordance.

And with respect to former FM Vartan Oskanian’s collaboration with PAP and the chances of his enrollment among the Party ranks, PAP MP firstly advised to read Oskanian’s statement more carefully, and added: “He is in search, and it may happen that enter the [coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia] RPA.”

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenian Parliamentary Elections 2012

In democratic countries proportional lists are prepared by voters, in Armenia - by party leaders

February 03, 2012 | 03:26

YEREVAN. - Armenia’s proportional electoral system is different from other democratic counties’ systems, expert on political and electoral systems Armen Badalyan told the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He mentioned that in democratic countries where the proportional system is used, the candidates are elected by party elections with the participation of the public and not by the party leaders. But as we have not reached that level of democracy yet, the mechanisms are different.

I am really wondering which country are they talking about? In most countries, parties are private institutions and they can do as they please. So I am really wondering what this guy is talking about!

Incumbent president should head Republican Party’s list – Armenian MP

February 03, 2012 | 13:03

YEREVAN.- Incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan should head the proportional list of the candidates from Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said RPA member Hovhannes Sahakyan.

The MP said the list would be presented ahead of party’s congress on March 10 or immediately after the congress. The delegates will elect the head of the party, Sahakyan said expressing confidence that Serzh Sargsyan would retain his position.

He also said the coalition parties may sign a new text of a memorandum, although the current document is effective.

“Signing of a memorandum depends on whether the coalition forces will run for elections by a single list,” he explained.

Under the current memorandum, two other parties - Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir - agreed to support Serzh Sargsyan’s nomination at the 2013 elections.

We have an other joker here! Yes lets mix two branches of the government that is going to be so constitutional!