YEREVAN, Dec 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Armenia votes in parliamentary elections
on Sunday triggered years ahead of schedule by reformist leader Nikol
Pashinyan, who is aiming to cement his political authority in the post-Soviet
country.
The 43-year-old former journalist became prime minister in May after
spearheading weeks of peaceful anti-government rallies that ousted veteran
leader Serzh Sarkisian.
However Pashinyan’s reform drive was stalled for months by opposition from
Sarkisian’s ruling party which dominated parliament.
After weeks of political manoeuvring by the prime minister and more street
protests, the parliament was dissolved last month.
Pashinyan’s party is expected to get a majority in the new legislature,
allowing him to push ahead with his campaign to reshape the South Caucasus
nation’s political landscape and spark an “economic revolution”.
“We will turn Armenia into an industrial, high-tech, export-oriented
country,” Pashinyan told supporters at a rally last week, pledging “the best
elections Armenia has ever seen” and ruling out ballot stuffing and voter
intimidation.
Last month, Pashinyan stepped down as prime minister to pave the way for
snap elections under a clause in Armenian law. He is currently acting prime
minister.
Observers expect him to return to the post with his party in control of
parliament.
Parliamentary elections had not been scheduled to be held until 2022.
– ‘Revolutionary euphoria’ –
Pashinyan has pledged to root out endemic corruption and address widespread
poverty, earning him supporters in the impoverished landlocked nation of
about three million people.
“He organised this revolution well and intelligently,” construction worker
Georgi Grigoryan said of Pashinyan. “We all hope that now everything will
work out well.”
On foreign policy, Pashinyan has said Armenia will “further strengthen
(our) strategic alliance with Russia and, at the same time, step up
cooperation with the United States and European Union”.
Analysts say Pashinyan sought new elections while he is at the peak of his
popularity.
In September, his bloc had a landslide victory in municipal elections,
winning more than 80 percent of the vote in the capital Yerevan, where nearly
40 percent of the former Soviet Republic’s population lives.
“The elections were called on the wave of a revolutionary euphoria,”
analyst Gevorg Poghosyan told AFP.
“But after the polls, that sentiment will inevitably weaken and Pashinyan
and his team will face a reality check.”
Nine political parties and two electoral blocs are competing for mandates
in the 101-seat legislature.
A party needs at least five percent of the votes to get elected in the
parliament, while an electoral bloc must clear a seven-percent barrier.
Polls will open at 0400 GMT and close at 1600 GMT. Results are expected to
be released in the early hours on Monday.