Armenia votes in snap polls to cement reform drive
YEREVAN: Armenians voted on Sunday 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 landlocked nation of about three million people.
“After the elections, we will be developing Armenian democracy and make an economic revolution happen,” Pashinyan told journalists after casting his ballot on Sunday, pledging to “hold free, fair, and transparent elections.” Pashinyan’s reform drive had been 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.
At a polling station in central Yerevan voters expressed optimism about the political change promised by Pashinyan and vented their anger at former corrupt officials.
“Thanks to the revolution, we will finally have fair elections,” 72-year-old pensioner Parzik Avetisyan said. “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.”
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.”
“Pashinyan’s party is likely to take a dominant position in the newly elected parliament and to get all the levers they need to step up promised economic and political reforms,” analyst Gevorg Poghosyan said.