“Aravot” comments that President Robert Kocharian urged his political allies to close ranks when he expressed confidence on Thursday that they will win the majority of seats in the parliament and form a coalition government. The paper says his message to his loyalists was: “Do not squabble. Everyone will get enough mandates. Ministerial portfolios as well.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” sees two scenarios for post-election developments. Under the first scenario, the three main pro-Kocharian forces -- the Republican Party, Dashnaktsutyun and Orinats Yerkir -- will get approximately the same number of parliament seats and form a new government accordingly. But there will be a catch. The three parties could be prone to “sharp and undesirable rivalry.” More likely, according to the paper, is another scenario in which the Republicans will do much better in the elections than all other pro-Kocharian parties. That will allow them to retain the core of ministerial posts.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” accuses the pro-presidential Ramkavar Azatakan party of violating a clause in Armenia’s Electoral Code which bans foreigners from campaigning in Armenian elections. The paper says several citizens of Russia spoke on Thursday at a campaign gathering organized by the party. It says the Ramkavar leadership must have known that the practice is illegal.
“Dashnaktsutyun has heard the people’s voice. Change is necessary,” writes “Yerkir.” The paper carries a statement by a civic group that denounces what it says is widespread vote buying during the election campaign. The Public Commission To Oversee the Legality of the Elections says there have been “numerous types of vote bribes.” It specifically implicates Ramkavar Azatakan, Orinats Yerkir and another pro-Kocharian party in the practice. “The issue of those parties’ right to participate in the elections must be discusses,” the group says.
(Vache Sarkisian)
“Hayots Ashkhar” sees two scenarios for post-election developments. Under the first scenario, the three main pro-Kocharian forces -- the Republican Party, Dashnaktsutyun and Orinats Yerkir -- will get approximately the same number of parliament seats and form a new government accordingly. But there will be a catch. The three parties could be prone to “sharp and undesirable rivalry.” More likely, according to the paper, is another scenario in which the Republicans will do much better in the elections than all other pro-Kocharian parties. That will allow them to retain the core of ministerial posts.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” accuses the pro-presidential Ramkavar Azatakan party of violating a clause in Armenia’s Electoral Code which bans foreigners from campaigning in Armenian elections. The paper says several citizens of Russia spoke on Thursday at a campaign gathering organized by the party. It says the Ramkavar leadership must have known that the practice is illegal.
“Dashnaktsutyun has heard the people’s voice. Change is necessary,” writes “Yerkir.” The paper carries a statement by a civic group that denounces what it says is widespread vote buying during the election campaign. The Public Commission To Oversee the Legality of the Elections says there have been “numerous types of vote bribes.” It specifically implicates Ramkavar Azatakan, Orinats Yerkir and another pro-Kocharian party in the practice. “The issue of those parties’ right to participate in the elections must be discusses,” the group says.
(Vache Sarkisian)