ARMENIAN ‘PARTY OF POWER’ TO APPROVE ELECTION LIST
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Feb 28 2007
Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian
and other leaders of the governing Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)
were due to meet late Wednesday to approve the list of its candidates
for this spring’s parliamentary elections.
Most of those candidates will contest the elections under the system
of proportional representation whereby voters choose parties or blocs,
as opposed to individuals. Ninety out of the 131 seats in the National
Assembly will be distributed on the party list basis.
A senior HHK member, who asked not to be identified, told RFE/RL
that the HHK’s proportional list will be topped by Markarian and
Sarkisian, followed by parliament speaker Tigran Torosian, senior
lawmaker Karen Karapetian and the influential Minister for Local
Government Hovik Abrahamian. He said it will also comprise a number
of other prominent Republicans as well as at least five other members
of Markarian’s cabinet.
Those include Trade Minister Karen Chshmaritian, Transport Minister
Andranik Markarian, Urban Development Minister Aram Harutiunian,
Environment Minister Vartan Ayvazian and Justice Minister David
Harutiunian. The latter has had no links with the HHK until now and
reportedly decided to join Armenia’s main "party of power" at the
last minute. President Robert Kocharian is thought to have personally
made sure that Harutiunian, his longtime protege, is included on the
Republican list.
The HHK board was also expected to nominate candidates in most of the
41 single-mandate individual constituencies across Armenia. They are
typically businessmen or other wealthy individuals with close ties
to the government and Sarkisian in particular.
As always, wealthy candidates will also be included on the party’s
proportional list. Markarian and other Republicans have denied earning
them parliament mandates for cash.
The HHK will be looking to retain the largest faction in parliament
after May 12, something which is essential for the success of
Sarkisian’s presidential ambitions. Observers say it will be challenged
not only by Armenia’s fragmented opposition but some pro-Kocharian
groups such as businessman Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party
(BHK).
The extent of rivalry between the HHK and the BHK remains unclear,
with some analysts predicting that they will jointly form the next
Armenian cabinet following the vote. There are already whispers
suggesting that the two parties have privately agreed not to compete
against each in single-mandate constituencies.