“Zhamanak” says it is good that many Armenians are too poor to access information about parliamentary election candidates nominated by the country’s leading political forces at the moment. “The later the citizens familiarize themselves with those lists -- and proportional compositions of the pro-government parties in particular -- the healthier those citizens will stay,” writes the paper. “The proportional lists of the pro-government amount to a demonstration of disrespect for citizens that are in a severe social and psychological state.” The paper points to the inclusion of dozens of rich businessmen on those lists.
“Hayots Ashkhar” notes the presence on the party lists of individuals who have no party affiliations or simply lead other, smaller parties. “Conditions are being thereby created for clarifying the political field in Armenia because such inclusions mark the beginning of a process of party mergers, which is an absolutely legitimate and necessary development,” comments the paper.
“These will elections will be quite sad and dull,” predicts “Hraparak.” “Heated competition and struggle will unfold in very few electoral districts. The problem is that in our country the electoral process has been almost fully reduced to financial investments.” The paper says the parliamentary races will be unpredictable only in single-mandate constituencies where there will be candidates from the Republican (HHK) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) parties. “People there will have to make a choice between the bad and the worst,” it says grimly. In these circumstances, concludes the paper, “the amount of money will be the main election criteria.”
“Yerkir” says that as the May 6 elections approach the HHK and the BHK are increasingly trying to recruit as many apolitical citizens as possible. The paper says this will hardly address widespread popular apathy about politics.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” accuses Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian of illicitly campaigning for the HHK with nationwide trips supposedly aimed at presenting the party’s election platform. “Certainly everybody sees these blatant violations of the law,” writes the paper. “Everybody sees but keeps silent. One gets the impression that even the opposition has become used to such a conduct by the regime.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Hayots Ashkhar” notes the presence on the party lists of individuals who have no party affiliations or simply lead other, smaller parties. “Conditions are being thereby created for clarifying the political field in Armenia because such inclusions mark the beginning of a process of party mergers, which is an absolutely legitimate and necessary development,” comments the paper.
“These will elections will be quite sad and dull,” predicts “Hraparak.” “Heated competition and struggle will unfold in very few electoral districts. The problem is that in our country the electoral process has been almost fully reduced to financial investments.” The paper says the parliamentary races will be unpredictable only in single-mandate constituencies where there will be candidates from the Republican (HHK) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) parties. “People there will have to make a choice between the bad and the worst,” it says grimly. In these circumstances, concludes the paper, “the amount of money will be the main election criteria.”
“Yerkir” says that as the May 6 elections approach the HHK and the BHK are increasingly trying to recruit as many apolitical citizens as possible. The paper says this will hardly address widespread popular apathy about politics.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” accuses Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian of illicitly campaigning for the HHK with nationwide trips supposedly aimed at presenting the party’s election platform. “Certainly everybody sees these blatant violations of the law,” writes the paper. “Everybody sees but keeps silent. One gets the impression that even the opposition has become used to such a conduct by the regime.”
(Tigran Avetisian)