Armenia: Vote 2007 . News & Views

Armenia: Questions Continue About Elections : June 4, 2007
Nearly a month after Armenia’s May 12 parliamentary elections, dissatisfaction with the vote among opposition parties and local election monitors shows no sign of abating. Four opposition groups have called for fresh elections, while a prominent non-governmental organization has questioned the campaign finance practices of two major pro-government parties.

Armenian Opposition Pins Hopes on Partnership : May 18, 2007

"The fate of Armenia depends on one person, and this one person is you," read sheets of paper pasted on the base of a monument in Yerevan's Freedom Square. But as Armenia's opposition pushes ahead with plans to contest the May 12 parliamentary vote results, emphasis is increasingly being put on the need for joint action.

Armenia: A New Era for a New Opposition? : May 16, 2007

The May 12 parliamentary elections marked a sizeable setback for three of Armenia's best known opposition parties, the People's Party of Armenia, the National Unity Party and the Republic Party. Two prominent opposition members argue that their defeat signals that the time has come for the country's opposition to abandon the tactics of the past.

West Gives Armenian Leaders a Boost After Disputed Election: May 15, 2007

Analysts and civil society activists say that international monitors' praise for Armenia's May 12 elections will give the country's leaders more ammunition to dismiss allegations of vote rigging made by their demoralized opponents, local media, and civic groups.

Observers Deem Armenia's Vote "an Improvement": May 13, 2007

The standard formula "free and fair" was never used. But international observers' preliminary findings about Armenia's May 12 parliamentary vote were as close as the country has come to an evaluation of its elections as "democratic."

Opposition Pledges Protests Against Vote Outcome: May 13, 2007

Even as international observers on May 13 hailed the conduct of Armenia's parliamentary vote, opposition members gathered in downtown Yerevan to protest against what they allege was widespread electoral fraud.

Government: Elections "Best in Armenia's History" : May 12, 2007
Amidst varied reports of voting irregularities, parliamentary elections widely seen as a test of democracy for Armenia ended calmly on May 12. The government has hailed the vote as confirmation of its earlier predictions that a fair and free vote would be held. Meanwhile, opposition parties are still considering their next move.

May 12: What Chance for Change? : May 12, 2007
Armenian government officials have announced their readiness for a free and fair vote on May 12 that, as Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian told The Financial Times, will help the country "to become part of the European family." In 2003, political leaders expressed similar sentiments, but the reality turned out quite different. Will 2007 provide change at last?

Armenian Leaders Expect Tight Grip on New Parliament : May 11, 2007

Changes may come after Armenia's upcoming parliamentary vote, but don't look for them in the country's close bilateral ties with Russia, a group of Armenian and Russian experts concluded at a May 10 government-sponsored conference in Yerevan.

Election Day: A Chance for New Parliamentary Power? : May 11, 2007

Armenia's new parliament, to be elected on May 12, will be the first to make use of constitutional amendments introduced in 2005 to balance presidential and parliamentary powers. Analysts, however, and opposition members question whether or not the parliament, Armenia's fourth since independence, will manage to serve as an effective counter-balance to President Robert Kocharian.

Armenia and Russia Agree: Foreign Policy Change Unlikely After Elections : May 10, 2007

Changes may come after Armeniais upcoming parliamentary vote, but don't look for them in the country's close bilateral ties with Russia, a group of Armenian and Russian experts concluded at a May 10 government-sponsored conference in Yerevan.

What's in a Name? Plenty of Voter List Controversy : May 10, 2007

Voter lists have long been the bugbear of Armenian elections. Two days ahead of the country's May 12 parliamentary vote, debates between the opposition and election officials over whether or not the voter registry has finally been put to rights continue apace.

Police, Opposition Members Clash in Yerevan : May 10, 2007

Police and opposition protestors clashed on May 9 in downtown Yerevan amidst a protest against what activists claim is a government plan to rig Armenia's parliamentary vote. The brawl, the first such well-publicized incident of the campaign, came just over a day before official campaigning for the May 12 election ends.

Observers Find Both Problems and Promise in Armenia's Election Campaign : May 9, 2007

In recently released reports, local and international observers have noted improvements in Armenia's preparations for its May 12 parliamentary vote, but a potpourri of election code violations and campaign irregularities suggest that the countryis election clean-up campaign may have mixed results.

Voter Apathy Appears Widespread on Eve of Parliamentary Poll: May 9, 2007

With just over a day left in Armenia's parliamentary campaign, many voters say that it will take more than promises of a strong army or increased pensions to get them to the polls on May 12. Some sociologists put the disinterest down to political parties' failure to use professional public relations techniques. Many parties, however, counter that they see no reason for experts to help them engage with voters.

Former Foreign Minister Arrested for Alleged Money Laundering: May 8, 2007

Armenia's National Security Service has arrested former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian, an outspoken government critic, as a suspect for money laundering, in what opposition leaders claim is a hamfisted attempt to silence government opponents on the eve of the May 12 parliamentary vote.

A Rythymic Rivalry: Pro-Government Parties Use Celebrity Concerts to Win Votes: May 8, 2007

Forget party platforms, charismatic speakers or campaign handouts. As the final push for votes in Armeniais May 12 elections intensifies, the race's two frontrunners -- the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and the pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party -- are fighting it out in music.

Armenia: National Security Service Search Targets Opposition Members: May 7, 2007

A money laundering investigation waged against two former government ministers who are outspoken government critics has sparked fresh controversy about treatment of the opposition in the run-up to Armenia's May 12 parliamentary vote. Government investigators have denied all allegations of wrongdoing or political motivation for their actions.

How Much for an MP's Seat? Mock Auction Offers Government Posts for Sale: May 7, 2007

In a downtown Yerevan park this past Saturday, 48-year-old Vakhtang Siradeghian was struggling with a weighty decision: should he buy a seat in parliament or not? Siradeghian's decision was part of an extensive May 5 vote-buying spoof staged by several non-government organizations to encourage voters to speak out against what they term is a rampant culture of corruption that could undermine Armenia's May 12 parliamentary election.