Heritage: Provincial Campaigning
After witnessing life on the campaign trial by Vahan Hovannisian, Levon Ter-Petrossian and Serge Sargsyan, perhaps only the first can actually be considered to be properly campaigning for the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. Indeed, Heritage’s Larissa Alaverdian says that the pre-election campaign period has sunk to new, low levels.
One can only wonder if that’s not in part because of the boisterous and confrontational tactics employed by Ter-Petrossian and the rather lifeless approach by the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan. Mediamax publishes Alaverdyan’s comments as well as her belief that the presidential election will be decided by a second round.
The former human rights ombudsperson also made specific mention of the 1996 presidential election which secured Ter-Petrossian a second term in office, but which was widely considered to have been falsified. Ter-Petrossian denied the accusation even as recently as this month, but few other than his supporters buy into that.
Larisa Alaverdian expressed readiness to participate in the grounded protest actions of any of the presidential candidates. According to her, starting from the parliamentary elections of 1995 and the presidential elections of 1996, “seizure of power by means of falsification of election results is regularly taking place in the country”.
The MP stated the presence of “low provincial level of understanding of the pre-election campaign”. In the course of the recent few years the level of political culture in Armenia slumped, Larisa Alaverdian stated. She noted that proper campaigns are held only by two presidential candidates – Vazgen Manukian and Arman Melikian, and other two candidates – Vahan Hovhannissian and Artur Baghdasarian – are “partially proper”.
- Published:
- 01.31.08 / 5pm by Onnik
- Category:
- Armenia, Armenia Presidential Election 2008, Campaign, Candidates, Democracy, News Briefs, Opinion, Press Conferences
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