Demirchian charged that the government rigged 2003 election results which led to his defeat by President Kocharian.
An engineer by profession, 47-year-old Stepan Demirchian like fellow opposition member Aram Sarkisian, came to politics unexpectedly. Demirchian is the son of Karen Demirchian, Armenia's Soviet-era leader from 1974 to 1988, who went on to become parliamentary speaker, and was assassinated in parliament in 1999. Demirchian, at the time the director of the Mars Industrial Complex, a British-made electronics factory, subsequently became leader of his father's party, the People's Party of Armenia.
Much of Stepan Demirchian's popularity is based on voters' memories of his father, a largely popular Communist Party boss whom he closely resembles in both face and voice. He was President Kocharian's main rival in the 2003 presidential elections. That same year, he was elected to the National Assembly as leader of the Ardarutiun (Justice) bloc of opposition parties. (The bloc has since disbanded.) Demirchian has since refused to consider any additional coalition, a stance that some observers cite as contributing to a decline in his popularity ratings with voters.
Pro-Government:
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian
Gagik Tsarukian
Vahan Hovhannisian
Opposition:
Artur Baghdasarian
Artashes Geghamian
Aram Sarkisian
Raffi Hovannisian
Armenian Opposition Divided Ahead of Election
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav030807b.shtml
Armenian Opposition Seeks to Regroup After Constitutional Referendum Setback (2005)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav121505.shtml
Armenia's Draft Constitution Divides Opposition (2005)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav080305a.shtml
Armenia's Opposition Leaders Seek US Support (2005)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav033005.shtml
Armenian Opposition Offers Government Deal on Constitutional Reform (2005)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav012705.shtml
Armenia: Blood and Bile: Transitions Online Partner Post (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp110204.shtml
Armenian Opposition Vows More Protests Despite Government Crackdown (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav041404.shtml
Government Forcibly Breaks Up Opposition Protest (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav041304.shtml
Armenia Braces for Political Upheaval (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav040104a.shtml
Armenian Authorities Carry Out Preemptive Roundup of Opposition Activists (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/articles/eav040604.shtml
Armenian Opposition Mounts Fresh Attack Against President (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav020604.shtml
Parliament Attack Trial Sparks Renewed Controversy (2003)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav082003.shtml
Armenia Poll Sparks Domestic Outcry, Western Criticism (2003)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/eav030703_pr.shtml
Armenia Faces Presidential Run-Off Amid Ballot-Stuffing Complaints (2003)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav022003.shtml
