Armenia votes in polls to cement reform drive
YEREVAN: Armenians yesterday were voting 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 antigovernment rallies that ousted veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian. He has pledged to root out endemic corruption and address widespread poverty, earning him supporters in the impoverished landlocked nation of about three million people. However Pashinyan’s reform drive was 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.
“After the elections, we will be developing Armenian democracy and make an economic revolution happen,” Pashinyan told journalists after casting his ballot, pledging to “hold free, fair, and transparent elections.” At a polling station in central Yerevan voters expressed optimism about the political change promised by Pashinyan and venting their anger at former corrupt officials. “Thanks to the revolution, we will finally have fair elections,” 72-year-old pensioner Parzik Avetisyan told AFP. “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.” Turnout was 7.7 percent at 11am (0700 GMT), three hours after polls opened.