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Armenia votes in snap polls to cement reform drive
YEREVAN, Dec 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Armenians on Sunday were voting in
parliamentary elections 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.
He has pledged to root out endemic corruption and address widespread
poverty, earning him supporters in the impoverished landlocked nation of
about three million people.
However Pashinyan’s reform drive was stalled for months by opposition from
Sarkisian’s ruling party which dominated the National Assembly until his
calculated resignation triggered parliament’s dissolution last month.
“After the elections, we will be developing Armenian democracy and make an
economic revolution happen,” Pashinyan told journalists after casting his
ballot, pledging to “hold free, fair, and transparent elections.”
At a polling station in central Yerevan voters expressed optimism about
the political change promised by Pashinyan and venting their anger at former
corrupt officials.
“Thanks to the revolution, we will finally have fair elections,” 72-year-
old pensioner Parzik Avetisyan told AFP.
“I voted for the positive change promised by Nikol (Pashinyan),” he added.
Another voter, 52-year-old painter Garnik Arakelyan, said: “I want all
those corrupt officials who for many years were robbing and humiliating
people to be jailed.”
Turnout was 7.7 percent at 11am (0700 GMT), three hours after polls
opened.
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”.
Last week Pashinyan, who is currently acting prime minister, promised “the
best elections Armenia has ever seen,” without ballot stuffing and voter
intimidation.
– ‘Revolutionary euphoria’ –
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.
“He organised this revolution well and intelligently,” construction worker
Georgi Grigoryan said of Pashinyan ahead of the polls. “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 opened at 0400 GMT and will close at 1600 GMT. Results are expected
to be released in the early hours on Monday.
BSS/AFP/RY/1711 hrs