ARMENIA: GUIDE TO PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION ON 12 MAY 2007
BBC Monitoring research
12 Apr 07
Introduction
Voters in the Republic of Armenia go to the polls on 12 May 2007 to
elect a new parliament to serve for a five-year term. The Armenian
parliament consists of a single chamber. Its 131 members are elected by
popular vote; 90 MPs are elected under the proportional representation
system and 41 through the first-past-the-post system.
Armenia, with a population of approximately 3.2 million, is a republic
with a presidential form of government. The constitution provides
for a division of powers between a strong presidency and parliament –
National Assembly – which has the right to approve the budget and to
impeach the president.
The coming parliamentary election will be the fourth election to be
held since the declaration of independence in September 1991, and
the second since Armenia joined the Council of Europe in January 2001.
The Armenian political scene will be dominated with wide-ranging
political activities in the run-up to the 12 May 2007 parliamentary,
the presidential and municipal elections scheduled for 2008. The
elections will put the government’s adherence to the principles of
democracy to test. Many experts and international watchdogs believe
that the election will be an important indicator on democratic progress
in Armenia,
While the election code provides a solid foundation for the conduct
of democratic elections, the upcoming elections will primarily require
greater political will and good-faith implementation of the legislation
in order to be conducted in line with OSCE commitments.
The previous parliamentary election in Armenia fell short of
international standards for democratic elections, the OSCE/ODIHR
Election Observation Mission’s Final Report issued on 25 May 2003 said.
A constitutional referendum in 2005 and the presidential and
parliamentary elections in 2003 were imperfect and did not meet
international standards, according to the 2006 Country Report on
Human Rights Practices, issued by the US Department of State.
In 2006 Armenia’s political landscape underwent significant changes
with the resignation of the speaker of the Armenian National Assembly,
Artur Baghdasaryan. His Orinats Yerkir, the Law-Governed Country Party,
left the coalition government of the Republican Party of Armenia and
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun. Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan’s sudden death in March 2007 resulted in changes in
the ruling party’s plans. The country’s strongest man, Defence Minister
Serzh Sargsyan has been promoted to the post of prime minister and is
now expected by many to run for president in the next year’s election.
The parliamentary election is widely seen as a dress rehearsal for
the presidential ballot due in spring 2008.
Political parties in Armenia appear to be based on personalities
rather than on platforms. Allegiances can be broadly divided into
pro-government and opposition. Seventy-four political parties are
currently registered in Armenia.
Despite discussions amongst some opposition parties about possible
alliances, no coalition was formed by the leading opposition parties
to run in the election. The largest parliamentary opposition Justice
bloc led by the former presidential candidate Stepan Demirchyan has
been facing internal disagreements and a decline in activities over
the last years. Its member parties said that they will contest the
election individually.
A new pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party, active since March
2006, has established an extended party network in all regions. It is
reported that the party has over 500 offices and 370,000 members. It
is expected that the party will be a significant contestant with a
visible campaign in the election.
The legislative framework for parliamentary elections consists of the
1995 Constitution, the Electoral Code (adopted in 1999 and amended
in 2002), the Civil Procedural Code, the Criminal Code, decisions
of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). In addition, decisions
of the Constitutional Court provide binding interpretations to the
legislation. The Election Code was amended in two stages, in 2005
and 2006. The OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission of the Council of
Europe played a significant role.
The election comes after Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey in unison
with dozens of foreign oil companies launched the biggest ever
regional Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline which bypassed the
Armenian territory. The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum
gas pipeline and the preparations for the building of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway caused wide-ranging reactions
in Armenia and opponents of the incumbent authorities hit at the
government for its policy of isolation.
Electoral process
Armenia is divided into 41 constituencies and 2,328,474 voters
will cast their votes for 131 members of parliament. Parliamentary
candidates are nominated by political parties and/or blocs. The CEC
has registered 24 political parties and one political bloc. The total
number of candidates standing for the election under the proportional
representation and first-past-the-post systems is 1,447. Under
proportional representation system, 1,313 candidates contend for 90
seats representing 24 parties and one bloc. Under first-past-the-post
system 134 candidates are contending for 41 seats.
Candidates in single-mandate constituencies are nominated by political
parties or initiative groups of citizens. Parties (blocs) are allowed
to withdraw their candidates from their lists or the entire list by 28
March, the date of final registration. Similarly, candidates standing
in the election under the first-past-the-post system are allowed to
pull out of the race by that date.
The same candidates can be included on the proportional list of
parties (blocs) and at the same time run under the first-past-the-post
system. To be elected, parties have to overcome a 5-per-cent threshold;
blocs have to overcome a 7-per-cent threshold.
The election will be administered by the Central Electoral
Commission. A total of 41 territorial electoral commissions and
approximately 2,000 precinct election commissions have been set up
across the country. In the conduct of the elections, the election
administration is guided by the Constitution of the Republic of
Armenia; the law on referendum of the Republic of Armenia; the
Electoral Code; the law on self-government;
the law on parties and other laws and documents.
International situation around election
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) hopes
the 12 May Armenian parliamentary election will be more democratic than
those held earlier. An election monitoring mission will be organized
and led by the OSCE’s election-monitoring body, the Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement.
The organization has already deployed 13 election experts for that
purpose.
They will be joined by 29 long-term observers from various OSCE member
states later. The Warsaw-based body also plans to dispatch some 300
short-term European and American observers to polling stations across
Armenia on voting day.
This is slightly more than the number of OSCE/ODIHR observers who
monitored the previous Armenian parliamentary elections in May 2003.
In addition, small groups of monitors are due to be deployed by the
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Council of Europe, and possibly by the
European Parliament. Ambassador Boris Frlec, a Slovenian diplomat who
will head the OSCE/ODIHR mission, expressed hope that the elections
will mark significant improvement over the previous Armenian polls
that were marred by serious fraud reported by OSCE observers.
Regrettably, Armenia’s elections have so far fallen short of
OSCE commitments for democratic elections, he told reporters in
Yerevan. The upcoming election is a chance to turn this negative trend
around. Similar hopes have repeatedly been voiced by the United States
and the European Union.
The Armenian authorities have assured them that they are committed
to ensuring free and fair election. They point, in particular, to
the recently enacted amendments in Armenia’s Electoral Code that are
mostly based on Council of Europe recommendations.
Frlec believes that "political will" of the Armenian government will
matter the most. He thinks that the recently amended election code of
Armenia provides a sound framework for democratic elections. The real
challenge for the authorities is the implementation, in good faith,
of the election code so that this and future elections will be held
in accordance with Armenia’s OSCE commitments.
Key election players and main planks of their platforms
Major contenders are the ruling parties of the Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation –
Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD); the pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party
and Stepan Demirchyan’s opposition People’s Party of Armenia, the
National Unity Party and several other parties.
The Republican party of Armenia
Acting leader – Prime minister Serzh Sargsyan; ref HYPERLINK
"_ () " _www.hhk.am_
()
The ruling RPA’s election campaign slogan is "For you, Armenia!" The
party hopes to gain the majority of the seats in the parliament
but rules out the possibility of forming a one-party government. The
Armenian prime minister and the head of the RPA board, Serzh Sargsyan,
will conduct the party’s election campaign, the parliamentary faction
leader of the RPA, Galust Saakyan, said.
The Republican Party is ready to cooperate with the Prosperous Armenia,
the ARFD and the United Labour Party, as well as with those opposition
forces wishing to take upon themselves the share of responsibility
for the activities of the next government.
The Republican Party of Armenia encourages investment in the national
economy; promises more new jobs. The party pledges to continue the
course it has been conducting as a ruling party.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD)
Board chairman Armen Rustamyan; ref HYPERLINK "_
( m/) " _www.yerkir.am_ ()
The ARFD is one of the two coalition member parties.
Encourages birth rate in order to bring the population of Armenia to
4m by 2012.
Promises rise in pension and minimum wages.
Supports fair economic competition and the fight against the shadow
economy.
Amongst other planks in the election platform are fair taxes,
creation of new jobs, provision of minimum life standard, financial
aid for disabled.
The Prosperous Armenia Party
Leader – Gagik Tsarukyan
The Prosperous Armenia party was formed in 2004 and is led by MP
Gagik Tsarukyan. He is also head of the Armenian National Olympics
Committee and the president of the Multy Group company. President
Robert Kocharyan is widely considered to be behind the party.
Armenian opposition media have dubbed Prosperous Armenia a "political
technology project" hatched by the presidential administration
with the aim of drawing support from voters disaffected by current
government policies.
Tsarukyan’s substantial financial investment in the party already
appears to be paying off, with opinion polls suggesting it now has
the support of 30 per cent of the electorate, even though it was only
formed one year ago.
Tsarukyan believes that the party has a chance to lead the forthcoming
parliamentary election. He called on all the political forces to aim
at a just competition, free and fair election.
"We respect all parties, but we are certain that we are strong and
well-organized. The people approve our ideas, and we have substantial
opportunities to win," he stressed.
The party promises the voters a prosperous country through poverty
reduction and creation of new jobs.
Constructing streets, repairing buildings, providing gas, creating
jobs are central issues of the party’s platform.
Orinats Yerkir party
Leader – Artur Baghdasaryan
Orinats Yerkir party, one of the former three coalition parties in
the government, is led by former speaker Artur Baghdasaryan, who
resigned from his post in 2006.
The main planks of the party’s election platform are: Fight for a
decent life, law and justice; Let’s turn Armenia into a country of
law; Laws should work, not exist on paper solely; Where there is law,
there are rights and justice; Human, his/her rights and dignity should
be in the centre of ideology; Army reforms and so on. Joining the
European Union is a priority of Armenia’s foreign policy for the party.
The party favours developing relations with the USA and Russia,
expanding cooperation with all European structures, as well as using
the potential of the Armenian Diaspora around the globe.
The party considers that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict should be
settled through negotiations taking into account Armenia’s interests.
The National Unity Party (NUP)
Leader – Artashes Geghamyan
The NUP leader hopes to get 28-38 per cent of the votes. The party
is aimed at working out and launching numerous national projects in
the spheres of economy, education, affordable housing and healthcare.
If the election results are falsified, we will urge the people to
protect their votes, NUP leader Artashes Geghamyan said.
External forces are hoping for irregularities during the election
to enable them to impose sanctions and exert pressure on Armenia in
relation to a Karabakh settlement. That is why holding a legal and
fair election is the only and last chance for Armenia, Geghamyan said.
Geghamyan’s election platform is called Anti-crisis programme, which
is an updated version of the programme presented in 2003 presidential
election when he was a presidential candidate. He proposes passing
at least 43 new laws to take Armenia out of the current crisis if
gets majority in the poll.
Heritage Party
Leader – Raffi Hovhannisyan
The party is led by former first foreign minister of independent
Armenia Raffi Hovhannisyan. He hopes for absolute majority in the
National Assembly if there are equal conditions.
The party believes that without ensuring Armenian citizens’ human
rights, one cannot talk about national interests, and the security
of the state cannot be ensured without democracy. Armenian mentality
is based on truth, justice and morality and not on something else
as others say. The party says the country is to show that young
independent Armenia and its citizens are able to hold free, fair and
honest elections, after which the winners and losers will congratulate
each other.
Every Armenia citizen should feel the strength of the law; not struggle
for just a piece of bread but live a worthy life as there is a direct
link between the law, rights and bread. Hovhannisyan also said it is
crucial to clearly differentiate between the branches of power.
At the same time, Hovhannisyan said that the establishment of order in
the country’s economy is a more important priority than the country’s
foreign policy or the Karabakh issue.
"It is crucial to bring everything under the control of the law,
to fill up the state budget with money belonging to people,"
Hovhannisyan said.
The People’s Party of Armenia (PPA)
Leader – Stepan Demirchyan; ref HYPERLINK "_
() " _www.ppa.am_ ()
The PPA election slogan is "Principles and honour". People should be
guided by principles and honour in their lives. The PPA promises to
reconsider the regional administrative division in Armenia. The party’s
election platform calls for in-depth reforms in the country. Demirchyan
says he will work to solve social hardships of the people.
Impeachment Bloc
Leaders Petros Makeyan and Mikayel Hayrapetyan
The Impeachment bloc has a single goal of removing the current
"anti-democratic and illegitimate regime" through initiating an
impeachment process of President Robert Kocharyan in parliament if
it wins the election. The bloc Impeachment includes the Democratic
Fatherland (Petros Makeyan) and the Conservative Party (Mikayel
Hayrapetyan).
The complete list of CEC registered political parties and the bloc:
The National Democratic Party
The National Solidarity party
The National Unity party
The Prosperous Armenia party
The Dashink party
The Heritage party
The People’s Party
The Democratic Path party
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun
The Progressive Party of Armenia
The Democratic Party of Armenia
The Youth Party of Armenia
The People’s Party of Armenia
The Communist Party of Armenia
The Republican Party of Armenia
The Marxist Party of Armenia
The Pan-Armenian National Movement
The Republic party
The United Labour Party
The United National Liberal Party
The New Times party
The Hunchak Social Democratic Party of Armenia
The Christian Democratic Revival party
The Orinats Yerkir party
The Impeachment bloc
International and domestic observers
An OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation mission, delegations from the
Council of Europe, the Executive Committee of the CIS, the Council
of Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS member states and a number
of other organizations will observe the poll.
A number of domestic groups also plan to observe the election. They
are the following NGOs: It’s Your Choice, Electoral System Centre,
All-Armenian Centre of Programmes, Hope, Phriteuf Nansen Armenian
Centre foe Human Rights Protection, UNISON for Support of People
with Special Needs, Free Society Institute, Areg Scientific Cultural
Youth Association, Legal and Community Support Centre AYB, Helsinki
Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, Against Violation of Law, Helsinki
Association Human Rights Protection.
Media environment
Television remains the main source of information and can be described
as predominantly pro-government, despite the formal transformation
of state TV into a public service broadcaster, and the existence of
numerous private channels, many of which de facto linked to political
parties. The print media is seen as more pluralistic and news coverage
is diverse and critical, however circulation is limited.
Public TV is the most influential media outlet in Armenia. Two
independent TV stations – A1+ and Noyan Tapan – which lost their
licences in 2002 and 2001 respectively, remain without frequencies
despite participation in numerous tenders and concern expressed by
the international community.
Nevertheless, although the 2003 presidential and parliamentary
elections were defined by the role of the broadcast media, it looks
as though the Internet will play a crucial role in covering and
disseminating news, views and opinions on this year’s parliamentary
election, according to some reports.
Sources
The constitution of Armenia; the website of the Armenian Electoral
Commission; Arminfo, Mediamax news agencies; Reports of the OSCE/ODIHR
on previous elections in Armenia.