AHARON ADIBEKIAN: SPEAKING ABOUT REAL RATINGS OF POLITICAL FORCES BEFORE APRIL 20-25 IS SENSELESS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Speaking about the real rating of
this or that political force in May 12 elections before April 20-25
is senseless.

Aharon Adibekian, Head of Sociometer Center, expressed such opinion
on March 30 at the Forum press club. At the same time, he said that
according to preliminary surveys of Sociometer, 30% respondents are
not going to take part in the elections, 35% have already made up their
mind in this connection, and 1/3 have not decided yet whether to take
part in the elections or not and whom to elect. In A. Adibekian’s
words, there has never been such situation before elections in Armenia.

In his opinion, this is conditioned by a number of circumstances,
in particular, by appearance of "two new players" in the political
field – People’s Party headed by Tigran Karapetian and Bargavach
Hayastan Party headed by Gagik Tsarukian. In A. Adibekian’s words,
Bargavach Hayastan actively entering the political field a year ago
currently enjoys sympathy of part of opposition or not pro-governmental
electorate, the evidence of which, according to the data of preliminary
sociological surveys, is the Party’s highest rating.

As the sociologist affirmed, during the preelection campaign the
opposition "will get back part of its electorate" and Bargavach
Hayastan’s real rating will be specified then. In difference to the
latter, RPA’s rating is stable: according to the last four surveys,
its rating is 17-18%. A. Adibekian also said that it is not clear
for the present what impact RPA leader Andranik Margarian’s death
will have on the Party’s rating.

In the words of Sociometer’s head, on the basis of preliminary surveys
conducted by now it can be stated that besides the above mentioned
two parties, ARFD and National Unity also have chances to pass. And
Orinats Yerkir, Zharangutiun and People’s Party have some problems,
in case of solving which they will succeed.

By the way, touching upon estimations given to him lately by some
politicians, A. Adibekian stated: "I show the temperature like a
thermometer, therefore they do not like me."