“168 Zham” anticipates “stormy political developments” in Armenia. “There is very little time remaining before the elections,” writes the paper. “Either there will be no political regroupings at all, or they will take place very quickly. After all, everyone realizes that the outcome of the presidential elections will be decided on May 12. And it will be decided very quickly.”
According to “Zhamanak Yerevan,” such “regroupings” will primarily affect Justice Minister David Harutiunian. “According to some rumors, Serzh Sarkisian, who is preparing to take up the post of prime minister, intends to sack David Harutiunian … in one of his first steps,” claims the paper. “It is known that Serzh Sarkisian and David Harutiunian never got on well with each other. So the opportune moment to settle scores has come. In all likelihood, Robert Kocharian will try stand by his protégé, David Harutiunian, but it is hard to say whether that will work.”
“Whoever becomes prime minister, his main task for the next month will be to prepare for the elections,” comments “Golos Armenii.” “The chairman of the Republican Party’s council, too, will face a similar task. The party of power will try to convince voters that it is a political force which is interested in holding elections meeting European standards more than anybody else.”
“Hayk” says Kocharian and his main political allies have already reached a tentative agreement to name Sarkisian prime minister. “His candidacy is supported not only by Kocharian but also other forces that are part of the government,” says the paper. “By appointing Serzh Sarkisian prime minister, Robert Kocharian is clearing his way to the presidential palace,” it adds. “But does he realize that he is doing that at his own expense?”
“The opposition has failed to figure out how to entice the electorate,” writes “Hayots Ashkhar.” “By drawing up programs in which seven out of ten words is ‘democracy,’ it is showing that it is solely relying on the West. With such programs it will not garner even a combined 10 percent of the vote. However, there is an attempt to make the world believe that the parliamentary elections will be free and fair only if the carriers of that program win.”
“Aravot” discusses Samvel Babayan’s decision to pull out of the majoritarian election in Goris, which all but predetermined the victory of Serzh Sarkisian’s brother Aleksandr in that constituency. It is obvious to the paper that the move was the “consequence of either fear, or a deal.” One of Babayan’s few opposition allies, Vazgen Manukian, is quoted as saying that he does not regret publicly supporting the former Karabakh army commander. “Samvel Babayan is not the kind of person who can be scared,” says Manukian. “But I don’t know. He may have found himself in trouble. This country grinds everyone like a mill.”
(Atom Markarian)
According to “Zhamanak Yerevan,” such “regroupings” will primarily affect Justice Minister David Harutiunian. “According to some rumors, Serzh Sarkisian, who is preparing to take up the post of prime minister, intends to sack David Harutiunian … in one of his first steps,” claims the paper. “It is known that Serzh Sarkisian and David Harutiunian never got on well with each other. So the opportune moment to settle scores has come. In all likelihood, Robert Kocharian will try stand by his protégé, David Harutiunian, but it is hard to say whether that will work.”
“Whoever becomes prime minister, his main task for the next month will be to prepare for the elections,” comments “Golos Armenii.” “The chairman of the Republican Party’s council, too, will face a similar task. The party of power will try to convince voters that it is a political force which is interested in holding elections meeting European standards more than anybody else.”
“Hayk” says Kocharian and his main political allies have already reached a tentative agreement to name Sarkisian prime minister. “His candidacy is supported not only by Kocharian but also other forces that are part of the government,” says the paper. “By appointing Serzh Sarkisian prime minister, Robert Kocharian is clearing his way to the presidential palace,” it adds. “But does he realize that he is doing that at his own expense?”
“The opposition has failed to figure out how to entice the electorate,” writes “Hayots Ashkhar.” “By drawing up programs in which seven out of ten words is ‘democracy,’ it is showing that it is solely relying on the West. With such programs it will not garner even a combined 10 percent of the vote. However, there is an attempt to make the world believe that the parliamentary elections will be free and fair only if the carriers of that program win.”
“Aravot” discusses Samvel Babayan’s decision to pull out of the majoritarian election in Goris, which all but predetermined the victory of Serzh Sarkisian’s brother Aleksandr in that constituency. It is obvious to the paper that the move was the “consequence of either fear, or a deal.” One of Babayan’s few opposition allies, Vazgen Manukian, is quoted as saying that he does not regret publicly supporting the former Karabakh army commander. “Samvel Babayan is not the kind of person who can be scared,” says Manukian. “But I don’t know. He may have found himself in trouble. This country grinds everyone like a mill.”
(Atom Markarian)