WHAT THE "ComRes" SOCIAL POLLS INDICATE

"HAYOTS ASHKHARH" Daily Newspaper
8 Nov 07
Armenia

"ComRes", one of the leading survey companies of Europe, conducted
social polls in Armenia in connection with the upcoming presidential
elections. 2000 individuals participated in it.

As Andrew Hovkins, Head of the company mentioned yesterday, 67 per cent
of the respondents believe that Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan will
win as a result of the presidential elections. Mr. Hovkins says that
in no country had ever seen either such a great number of candidates
or a candidate with such an overwhelming percentage of votes.

Ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who has received 4 per cent of votes,
ranks as the second candidate after S. Sargsyan. Arthur Baghdasaryan,
leader of "Rule of Law" party is in the 3 position with 3 per cent
of votes, and Raffi Hovhannisyan is the fourth candidate with 2 per
cent of votes.

Artashes Geghamyan, Head of National Unity, Tigran Karapetyan, Head of
the People’s Party, Gagik Tsaroukyan, leader of "Prosperous Armenia"
party, Vazgen Manoukyan, Head of the National Democratic Union and
Vahan Hovhannisyan, member of the ARFD Bureau have each received 1
per cent of votes.

As to Stepan Demirtchyan, Head of the People’s Party of Armenia,
Armen Roustamyan, representative of the ARFD Supreme Body and Aram
Karapetyan, Head of "New Times" party, they have received no votes.

56 per cent of the respondents are sure that they will participate in
the upcoming presidential elections. If the elections were held this
Sunday, 55 per cent would certainly participate in the voting. "Those
with a higher level of education were sure that they would take part
in the elections," E. Hovkins mentioned.

S. Sargsyan is considered as the best candidate capable of solving
the problems faced by the country. In response to the question ‘who
can provide the best solution to the Karabakh issue’, 45 per cent
of the respondents believe that this person is Serge Sargsyan,
11 per cent believe that it is Raffi Hovhannisyan. 9 per cent
have mentioned the name of A. Baghdasaryan and 8 per cent – the
name of A. Gehghamyan. V. Hovhannisyan and V. Manoukyan have each
received 6 per cent. 5 per cent of the respondents gave the name
of L. Ter-Petrosyan, 3 per cent – A. Roustamyan, and 2 per cent
T. Karapetyan.

42 per cent of the respondents are concerned by the danger of war; 40
per cent mention the name of S. Sargsyan with regard to neutralizing
the danger.

R. Hovhannisyan received 11 per cent, A. Baghdasaryan – 9 per cent,
A. Geghamyan – 8 per cent, V. Manoukyan – 7 per cent. V. Hovhannisyan
and L. Ter-Petrosyan have each received 5 per cent. A. Roustamyan
has received 3 per cent and T. Karapetyan – 2 per cent.

Having received 40 per cent, S. Sargsyan is also on top position
in terms of ensuring the security of Armenia. He is followed by
R. Hovhannisyan and A. Baghdasaryan, each having 11 per cent. 9 per
cent of the respondents have mentioned A. Geghamyan, 8 per cent have
mentioned V. Manoukyan. V. Hovhannisyan and L. Ter-Petrosyan have
each received 5 per cent. As to A. Roustamyan and T. Karapetyan,
each of them has received 3 per cent.

With regard to fight against corruption, S. Sargsyan shares the top
position with A. Baghdasaryan, each having 20 per cent. R. Hovhannisyan
is on the third position, with his 17 per cent. 15 per cent of the
respondents have mentioned V. Manoukyan, 7 per cent have mentioned
V. Hovhannisyan, 5 per cent – L. Ter-Petrosyan and T. Karapetyan and
4 per cent – A. Roustamyan.

33 per cent of the respondents consider S. Sargsyan as
the best candidate in terms of strengthening the economy of
Armenia. He is followed by R. Hovhannisyan, who has received 22
per cent. A. Baghdasaryan has received 21 per cent, A. Geghamyan –
20 per cent, V. Manoukyan 12 per cent, V. Hovhannisyan – 9 per cent,
A. Roustamyan – 8 per cent. L. Ter-Petrosyan and T. Karapetyan have
each received 7 per cent.

As regards the solution of the country’s social problems, S. Sargsyan
is again considered the best candidate by the majority of the
respondents, i.e. 31 per cent. 22 per cent mention R. Hovhannisyan,
21 per cent – A. Baghdasaryan, 17 per cent – A. Baghdasaryan, 10 per
cent – V. Manoukyan, 8 per cent – T. Karapetyan. A. Roustamyan and
L. Ter-Petrosyan each have 7 per cent. V. Hovhannisyan has 6 per cent.

According to the social poll, even those who support S. Sargsyan’s
rivals, highly appreciate his abilities in terms of solving many
problems.

36 per cent of the participants of the poll link Armenia’s future
with all the organizations; 29 per cent link it with the European
Union, 24 per cent – with the CIS, 4 per cent – with NATO. 11 per
cent of the respondents do not link the country’s future with any
organization at all. 52 per cent of the respondents attach importance
to the candidates’ attitudes towards the relations with other countries
and the danger of war.

The majority of the candidates believe that no "colored" revolution
is possible in Armenia.

"ComRess" company has a great experience in conducting political polls
with precise results. The average rate of statistical error is +/ –
2.2 per cent.