PanARMENIAN.Net

Majority of Armenian voters decided on their candidate

16.02.2008 15:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 2 million 390 thousand ballot papers
have been printed for the February 19 presidential
election.

Meanwhile, the OSCE/ODIHR mission issued an interim
report which says that the Central Electoral Committee
is well prepared for the forthcoming election.

`Sometimes the election rhetoric was harsh. The
rallies were mostly peaceful except for two of Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, when collision took place. As to media
activities, coverage of candidates’ campaign was
mostly fair. The only candidate subjected to online
editions’ criticism was Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Comments
on other presidential hopefuls were either positive or
neutral,’ the report says in part.

Law enforcers reported receipt of 52 alerts of
election violations. 11 criminal cases were initiated.
19 complaints were rejected.

Majority of Armenian voters decided on their
candidate. According to Socio service, 76% are going
to attend polling stations. At that 7% do not know
whom to elect yet.

The leader of race is Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan
with 53,1%. He is followed by Orinats Yerkir party
leader Artur Baghdassaryan (12,6%), Levon
Ter-Petrosyan (11,3%), Dashnaktsutyun candidate Vahan
Hovhannisian (6,4%), National Unity party leader
Artashes Geghamyan (6,1 %.).

The anti-rating is topped by Levon Ter-Petrosyan. More
than half of the respondents (51,2%) said they will
never support Armenia’s first President. The other
candidates’ anti-rating varies from 4% to 8%.

The results of surveys conducted among 1600 people
from 64 towns and villages of Armenia allow to presume
that the outcomes of the elections are quite
predictable.

Members of the Supreme Spiritual Council called on the
nation not to yield to agitation provocations and obey
the call of soul and conscience, Armenian media
reports.