Prosperous Armenia Party (Bargavach Hayanstan) : Personality-Driven
Officially founded in June 2004, Prosperous Armenia gained widespread recognition only in mid-2006, when oligarch Gagik Tsarukian, ranked as Armenia's richest businessman, became its leader. Tsarukian's charity organization kicked off large-scale social welfare programs, which played a significant role in increasing Prosperous Armenia's popularity. It claims that its reported 370,000 members make it the largest of any Armenian political party.
Pundits and journalists widely believe that Prosperous Armenia is backed by President Robert Kocharian's administration in a bid to create a second "party of power" to rival the Republican Party of Armenia. A presidential spokesperson has stressed that there are no contradictions between the two parties, however.
That observation would seem to play out in the election races: there are only two districts where both Prosperous Armenia and the Republican Party are running candidates.
Nevertheless, the two parties are apparently jealous towards each other as seen from several community head elections in the recent two months. There are also reports about clashes between Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia supporters. Media speculation has also centered on two explosions in early April 2007 at Prosperous Armenia's Yerevan community offices, though no material evidence suggests any link with the Republican Party.
Surveys put popular support for Prosperous Armenia at 15-18 percent of voters. One survey run by Sotsiometer indicated that Prosperous Armenia adherents are individuals who see that Armenian living standards are improving, but are unhappy that their own living conditions have not kept pace with the changes.
Elections Presence:112 people on the party list for proportional voting; 9 individual candidates have been nominated for first-past-the-post districts.
Slogan: "Let's create a prosperous country together."
Website: http:// www.bhk.am
Address: 1 Miasnikian St, Yerevan
Tel: (374-10) 54-88-07,
56-60-92
Pro-Government:
Republican Party of Armenia
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
United Labor Party
Opposition:
Country of Law Party
People's Party of Armenia
National Unity Party
Republic Party
Heritage Party
To Win Votes, Armenian Parties Promise Road Repairs, Cable TV and More: April 2006
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav041707.shtml
Violence Mars Armenia's Campaign for a Trouble-Free Vote: April 2006
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav041307a.shtml
Demands for Voter Passports Spark Election Controversy: April 2006
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav040407.shtml
Youth Group Pushes for Change: April 2006
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav040507b.shtml
Prosperous Armenia Party Wants "Serious" Role in Governing Armenia: February 2007
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav022107a.shtml
"Oligarchic" Party Gaining Ground Ahead of 2007 Vote: December 2006
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav122006.shtml
