ULP EXPECTS TO "PLEASANTLY SURPRISE" PUBLIC AS A RESULT OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 16 2007

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The United Labor Party (ULP) is
going to work more actively in connection with the spring parliamentary
elections.

Party Chairman Gurgen Arsenian declared this on January 16 at the
Pastark club.

In his words, the first manifestation of this activization will be
supporting the candidate nominated by ULP at the Charentsavan Mayor
election scheduled for January 28.

In G.Arsenian’s opinion, this election will enable to estimate the
efficiency of the amended Electoral Code that will come into force
from January 17.

Mentioning that the electoral process was made clear in the Electoral
Code, he called the political forces and electoral structures for
attentively studying it "for not moving from the limits of Electoral
Code to the limits of the Criminal Code during the election." And
the probability of this, as G.Arsenian affirmed, is very big, as
according to the amended Electoral Code, any violation is liable for
criminal responsibility.

G.Arsenian said that ULP will run for the elections independently
and will unite with another political force only under force majeur
situation. In his words, such situation can be formed in case of
opposition’s causing "political detonation."

Not presenting his forecast on expected results of his party’s
participation in the parliamentary elections, G.Arsenian meanwhile said
that ULP intends to "pleasantly surprise" the public. Gving preference
to the proportional system, ULP does not exclude nomination of his
candidates by the majoritarian system, too.

ULP’s surveys showed that 60% country’s electorate is opposition, as it
is displeased with the current authorities. However, in G.Arsenian’s
words, this is mainly politically passive part of electors. For
making them active the opposition should be able to use necessary
political technologies, in particular, to create "state covering"
of party structures as this was done by ULP.