Agence France Presse
May 29 2009

Armenia opposition pins hopes on Yerevan poll

BYLINE: Mariam Harutunian

YEREVAN, May 27 2009

The Armenian capital Yerevan holds municipal elections on Sunday in
which the main opposition movement is seeking to gain an important
foothold on power after losing political ground last year.

The Armenian National Congress is hoping it can win enough seats on
the 65-seat city council for its leader — former president Levon
Ter-Petrosian — to be elected mayor.

Ter-Petrosian has portrayed the vote as a chance for the opposition to
reclaim some political territory after the loss of last year’s violent
presidential election. But his supporters fear foul play by the
authorities.

"The Congress will win in the case that the elections are free and
fair, but today we see no signs they will be," said one of its
leaders, Stepan Demirchian.

The vote has raised fears of a repeat of the violence after last
year’s presidential elections that saw 10 people killed in clashes
between riot police and opposition supporters.

Ter-Petrosian and his supporters accused the authorities of rigging
the vote to guarantee a win for President Serzh Sarkisian who defeated
Ter-Petrosian.

Analysts say it is likely the opposition will hold protests if it
loses again, risking another confrontation.

"If defeated, the opposition will most likely try to destabilise
situation and to prompt people to take to the streets. Certain
provocations are possible as well," independent political analyst
Sergei Shakarian told AFP.

The city council will chose the mayor under constitutional amendments
adopted in 2005. Armenia’s president previously made the appointment
for the four-year term.

If any party wins 40 percent of the seats, its candidate becomes the
city mayor, otherwise the mayor is to be elected by the city council.

Preliminary results are to be announced within 24 hours after the vote
and the final results during the next 7 days.

The ruling Republican Party has declared that Yerevan’s current mayor,
Gagik Beglarian, will top its party list in the municipal vote.

The party vowed the elections will be free and fair and said its
campaign is focused on addressing social issues.

"The elections will be free and fair thanks to an adapted legal
framework and the political will of the authorities," one of the
Republican Party leaders, Edik Sarmazanov, told AFP.

Opinion polls show the leading candidate is Beglarian.

The international community will be watching the vote to see if
Armenia is keeping its commitments on democratic reforms. The
observers’ delegation includes the Council of Europe and the European
Union representatives.

For the capital’s residents, the vote is seen as a crucial standoff
between the ruling party and the opposition.

"I will vote for the current mayor. The opposition’s victory will lead
to confrontation with the authorities and I do not want another
escalation in the country," said Gagik Muradian, 56-year-old Yerevan
resident.

"I will vote for Ter-Petrosian. It is a chance to free the country
from the current authorities. Our victory will end Serzh Sarkisian’s
clan, will end injustice and corruption," said unemployed Gaiane
Khachatrian, 39.