The Daily Star, Lebanon
March 13 2009

Tasknak party to announce electoral alliances soon

Daily Star staff
Friday, March 13, 2009

BEIRUT: Armenian party Tashnak will reportedly be announcing its
electoral alliances in the coming days, according to the pan-Arab
newspaper Al-Hayat. Analysts say that the party’s choice of alliances
is likely to impact the outcome of the polls. Both the March 14
majority and March 8 opposition have been courting this much-coveted
political group. Tashnak, led by Hovig Mekhitarian, continues to meet
with representatives from both camps but has yet to ally with either
side. According to Al-Hayat, both alliances have designated their
Catholic, Maronite, and Orthodox candidates in Beirut’s first
electoral district, but Armenian representatives have thus far
withheld any endorsements, deferring their decisions until Tashnak
makes its announcement. A Hizbullah official told Al-Hayat that in
Beirut’s second electoral district one of the Armenian representatives
would be affiliated with Tashnak, which could potentially reduce
Mustaqbal’s influence if the party sided with March 8. – The Daily
Star