‘IMPEACHMENT BLOC’ AMONG ARMENIAN VOTE CONTENDERS
By Ruzanna Stepanian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
March 1 2007
A small opposition alliance pursuing the single goal of impeaching
President Robert Kocharian was officially registered to contest the
May 12 parliamentary elections on Thursday.
The bloc bearing the English-language name Impeachment formally
consists of two small parties supporting former President Levon
Ter-Petrosian. But the driving force behind it is the Aylentrank
(Alternative) movement that was launched late last year by a group
of prominent politicians and intellectuals in opposition to Kocharian.
Some of them, notably former parliament speaker Babken Ararktsian,
used to hold senior positions in the Ter-Petrosian administration.
Others are much younger Western-oriented figures like Nikol Pashinian,
editor of "Haykakan Zhamanak," Armenia’s best-selling daily. Pashinian
told RFE/RL that Impeachment’s list of candidates will be submitted
to the Central Election Commission (CEC) by Saturday.
As well as campaigning for regime change, Aylentrank claims to offer
an ideological alternative to Armenia’s current leadership, which
it accuses of rolling back political reforms and endangering the
country’s sovereignty. The movement embarked on a campaign of rallies
on February 20 in a bid to win over the hearts and minds of Armenians.
However, its first rally was attended by up to 1,000 people,
highlighting Ter-Petrosian allies’ persisting lack of popularity. The
next Aylentrank gathering is scheduled for Friday.
Aylentrank leaders hoped that Impeachment would unite a wide range
of big and small opposition parties refusing to recognize Kocharian’s
legitimacy. But none of the opposition heavyweights has shown interest
in the initiative. Even some Ter-Petrosian allies are skeptical
about it.
Meanwhile, the Kocharian-controlled CEC voiced no objections to the
bloc’s name as it promptly registered Impeachment in the presence of
journalists. Still, the CEC chairman, Garegin Azarian, had trouble
uttering the word "impeachment" during the public ceremony, cutting
short his customary congratulation of a newly registered election
contender. "We congratulate … ," Azarian paused, grinning. "I had
better not say that. Let’s move on," he added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
