ARMENIANS ASSESS QUALITIES FOR POLITICIANS

Angus Reid Global Scan, Canada
Nov 2 2006

– Adults in Armenia believe people running for public office
should hold specific features, according to a poll by the Gallup
Organization. 31 per cent of respondents believe parliamentary
candidates should be honest and impartial.

A democratic world outlook is second on the list with 30 per cent,
followed by education with 28 per cent, taking care of people with
19 per cent, keeping promises with eight per cent, and patriotism
also with eight per cent.

Armenian president Robert Kocharyan was re-elected to a new four-year
term in March 2003 in an election marred by fraud allegations. Next
year, Armenia will hold a presidential ballot and renew the 131-member
National Assembly.

Kocharyan is ineligible for a new term in office. Current defence
minister Serge Sarkisian and current foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
have been mentioned as possible presidential candidates.

Last month, Oskanian discussed the current state of democracy in the
former Soviet Republic, saying, "Everyone must realize that we simply
have no more room for holding bad elections, because this time the
damage to our people would be not only moral but also material."

The poll was conducted with the support of the Armenian Sociological
Association, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the
International Republican Institute.

Polling Data

What is the most important feature for a parliamentary candidate?

(Several answers allowed)

Honesty 31%

Impartiality 31%

Democratic world outlook 30%

Education 28%

Taking care of the people 19%

Keeping promises 8%

Patriotism 8%

Morality 6%

Professionalism 6%

Inflexible will 2%

Source: Gallup Organization / Armenian Sociological Association /
U.S. Agency for International Development / International Republican
Institute Methodology: Interviews with 1,200 Armenian adults, conducted
in early August 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.