Agence France Presse — English
May 12, 2007 Saturday

Ex-Soviet Armenia votes in key test for democracy

Armenians voted in parliamentary elections Saturday in what is being
billed as a litmus test for democracy in this impoverished ex-Soviet
country.

Surveys show Armenians are hungry for reform, with an overwhelming
majority supporting radical change, but polls predict pro-government
parties will come out ahead in the election.

The vote is seen as a key test of democratic reform in the small
mountainous republic wedged between Turkey and Iran, where no
election has been judged fair since independence with the collapse of
the Soviet Union in 1991.

More than 20 opposition parties are running and analysts say these
divisions have scuttled chances of defeating two pro-government
parties — the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HKK) and the
Prosperous Armenia party headed by millionaire former World Arm
Wrestling Champion Gagik Tsarukian.

Opposition leaders claim the vote will be rigged and are already
planning street demonstrations on Sunday to pressure the government
to overturn the results.

About 2.3 million of Armenia’s three million people are registered to
vote in elections for 131 seats in the National Assembly.

Hundreds of local and international observers are monitoring the
vote, including more than 300 from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe.

The United States and European Union have repeatedly warned of
negative consequences if no improvement is seen over past elections,
including potential cuts of foreign aid and the scaling back of
relations.

Cuts in foreign assistance could be disastrous for Armenia, where
more than 30 percent of people live on less than two dollars (1.50
euros) a day.

The election is also seen as a dress rehearsal for a presidential
vote due next year after President Robert Kocharian steps down at the
end of his second term. The HKK, led by Kocharian’s chosen successor,
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, is widely expected to take first
place.

Kocharian has called on voters to support pro-government parties,
warning of instability if the opposition comes to power.

"If the two most important governmental institutions — the president
and the parliament — start a confrontation, the people will be the
ones to suffer," he said on Armenian television.

Polling will close at 1500 GMT, with preliminary results expected
within 24 hours.