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MARKET RELATIONS IN PRE-ELECTION PERIOD
[03:41 pm] 16 April, 2007

Summing up the results of the one-week election campaign we can say
that the struggle is based rather on market relations than on
ideological principles. Let’s take the city of Alaverdi as an
illustration. On the one hand, the political forces running for the
parliament do their utmost to enlarge their electorate in the
region. On the other hand, voters try to benefit more from the
pre-election struggle.

The struggle is namely tense between two political forces; the
Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and the Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA). The PAP collects the passport data of the voters. They knock at
the doors and wonder what the residents think about this or that
party.

Grandfather Simon has agreed to pass his passport data per 5000 AMD
though he is even ready to take 3000 AMD.

Grandmother Anichka expects pre-election presents from the candidates,
starting from household equipment to money. `They collect our
passports and assure that they will distribute presents on the eve of
the elections. For instance, residents of Shnogh village got flour,
irons and many other suchlike things.’

As for the Republican Party, it has initiated free treatment and
distribution of spectacles in the region.

Artavazd Barosyan, coordinator of the RPA in Alaverdi, quotes the RA
Electoral Code, which doesn’t forbid the parties to initiate charity
activity before the election campaign. `Charity is a common phenomenon
world-wide. All political forces activate on the eve of elections.’