ARMENIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT DROPS OUT OF PARLIAMENTARY RACE

ARMENPRESS
Apr 30 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: The former ruling Armenian National
Movement (ANM) of ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian dropped out of the
race for May 12 parliamentary elections after the country’s Central
Election Commission (CEC) convened on April 29 to consider and approve
its application asking to invalidate its previous registration.

The party’s list of candidates for proportional elections was led
by its current chairman Ararat Zurabian. The list had altogether 70
names. However, several members of the party will be contesting the
elections under the majoritarian election system in single-mandate
constituencies.

The CEC declined also an application from Assyrian organization
‘Atur,’ which sought a permission to observe the May 12 elections,
on grounds that the organization’s regulations do not provide for it.

The CEC said it also decided that the names of the parties contesting
the polls must be printed on ballots in capital letters. CEC chairman
Garegin Azarian said the suggestion was made by the justice ministry
on grounds that the names of parties are registered with its registry
in capital letters.

Azarian said an opposition alliance bearing the English-language
Impeachment name did not agree and only the first letter of its name
will be in capital letter.