| Armenia |
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Politics of Armenia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the head of government, and of a platform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament.
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The population of Armenia voted overwhelmingly for independence in a September 1991 referendum, followed by a presidential election in October 1991 that gave 83% of the vote to Levon Ter-Petrossian. Ter-Petrossian had been elected head of government in 1990, when the National Democratic Union party defeated the Armenian Communist Party. Ter-Petrossian was re-elected in 1996. Following public demonstrations against Ter-Petrossian's policies on Nagorno-Karabakh, the President resigned in January 1998 and was replaced by Prime Minister Robert Kocharyan, who was elected President in March 1998. Following the assassination in Parliament of Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan and parliament Speaker Karen Demirchyan and six other officials, on 27 October 1999, a period of political instability ensued during which an opposition headed by elements of the former Armenian National Movement government attempted unsuccessfully to force Kocharyan to resign. Kocharyan was successful in riding out the unrest. In May 2000, Andranik Margaryan replaced Aram Sargsyan as Prime Minister.
Kocharyan's re-election as president in 2003 was followed by widespread allegations of ballot-rigging. He went on to propose controversial constitutional amendments on the role of parliament. These were rejected in a referendum the following May at the same time as parliamentary elections which left Kocharyan's party in a very powerful position in parliament. There were mounting calls for the President's resignation in early 2004 with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets in support of demands for a referendum of confidence in him.
The unicameral parliament (also called the National Assembly) is dominated by a coalition, called "Unity" (Miasnutyun), between the Republican and Peoples Parties and the Agro-Technical Peoples Union, aided by numerous independents. Dashnaksutyun, which was outlawed by Ter-Petrosian in 1995–96 but legalized again after Ter-Petrosian resigned, also usually supports the government. A new party, the Republic Party, is headed by ex-Prime Minister Aram Sargsyan, brother of Vazgen Sargsyan, and has become the primary voice of the opposition, which also includes the Armenian Communist Party, the National Unity party of Artashes Geghamyan, and elements of the former Ter-Petrossian government.
The Government of Armenia's stated aim is to build a Western-style parliamentary democracy as the basis of its form of government. However, international observers have questioned the fairness of Armenia's parliamentary and presidential elections and constitutional referendum since 1995, citing polling deficiencies, lack of cooperation by the Electoral Commission, and poor maintenance of electoral lists and polling places. For the most part however, Armenia is considered one of the more pro-democratic nations in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Observers noted, though, that opposition parties and candidates have been able to mount credible campaigns and proper polling procedures have been generally followed. Elections since 1998 have represented an improvement in terms of both fairness and efficiency, although they are still considered to have fallen short of international standards. The new constitution of 1995 greatly expanded the powers of the executive branch and gives it much more influence over the judiciary and municipal officials.
The observance of human rights in Armenia is uneven and is marked by shortcomings. Police brutality allegedly still goes largely unreported, while observers note that defendants are often beaten to extract confessions and are denied visits from relatives and lawyers. Public demonstrations usually take place without government interference, though one rally in November 2000 by an opposition party was followed by the arrest and imprisonment for a month of its organizer. Freedom of religion is not always protected under existing law. Nontraditional churches, especially the Jehovah's Witnesses, have been subjected to harassment, sometimes violently. All churches apart from the Armenian Apostolic Church must register with the government, and proselytizing was forbidden by law, though since 1997 the government has pursued more moderate policies. The government's policy toward conscientious objection is in transition, as part of Armenia's accession to the Council of Europe. Most of Armenia's ethnic Azeri population was deported in 1988–1989 and remain refugees, largely in Azerbaijan. Armenia's record on discrimination toward the few remaining national minorities is generally good. The government does not restrict internal or international travel. Although freedom of the press and speech are guaranteed, the government maintains its monopoly over television and radio broadcasting.
Armenia became independent from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic on 28 May 1918 as the Democratic Republic of Armenia (DRA). After the DRA collapsed on 2 December 1920, it was absorbed into the Soviet Union and became part of the Transcaucasian SFSR. The TSFSR dissolved in 1936 and Armenia became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union known as the Armenian SSR. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, beginning on 23 September 1991 the official name of the nation has been the Republic of Armenia (Armenian: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun). The data code for the country is AM.
The capital and largest city is Yerevan. In addition to the Yerevan administrative region, Armenia is split into ten administrative divisions, known as marzer (singular: marz); these are Ararat, Aragatsotn, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Lori, Shirak, Syunik, Tavush, and Vayots Dzor.
The flag of Armenia consists of three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange.
The president is elected for a five year term by the people (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary).
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| President of Armenia | Serzh Sarkisyan | Republican Party | 9 April 2008 |
| Prime Minister | Tigran Sarkisyan | Republican Party | 9 April 2008 |
| Minister of Defense | Seyran Ohanyan | none | 14 April 2008 |
| Chief of the staff of the Government | David Sargsyan | Republican Party | 22 April 2008 |
| Minister of Healthcare | Harutyun Kushkyan | Prosperous Armenia | 1 June 2007 |
| Minister of Economy | Tigran Davtyan | Republican Party | December 2010 |
| Minister of Education and Science | Armen Ashotyan | Republican Party | 13 May 2009 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Eduard Nalbandyan | none | 15 April 2008 |
| Minister of Nature Protection | Aram Harutyunyan | Republican Party | 1 June 2007 |
| Minister of Emergency Situations | Mher Shahgeldyan | Rule of Law | 1 April 2008 |
| Minister of Culture | Hasmik Poghosyan | none | 1 June 2007 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Sergo Karapetyan | Rule of Law | 31 December 2010 |
| Minister of Energy and Natural Resources | Armen Movsisyan | Republican Party | 8 June 2007 |
| Minister of Transport and Communications | Gurgen Sargsyan | Rule of Law Party | 21 April 2008 |
| Minister of Finance | Vache Gabrielyan | Republican Party | December 2010 |
| Minister of Territorial Administration | RA Vice Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan | none | 21 April 2008 |
| Minister of Urban Development | Vardan Vardanyan | Prosperous Armenia | 1 April 2008 |
| Minister of Justice | Gevorg Danielyan | Republican Party | 20 June 2007 |
| Minister of Diaspora | Hranush Hacobyan | Republican Party | 1 October 2008 |
| Minister of Labor and Social Affairs | Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan | Prosperous Armenia | 23 November 2009 |
| Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs | Artur Petrosyan | Prosperous Armenia | 29 January 2010 |
The Azgayin Zhoghov (or National Assembly) is the legislative branch of the government of Armenia. It is a unicameral body of 131 members, elected for four-year terms: 56 members in single-seat constituencies and 75 by proportional representation. The proportional-representation seats in the National Assembly are assigned on a party-list basis amongst those parties that receive at least 5% of the total of the number of the votes. The unicameral parliament is controlled by a coalition of three political parties: the conservative Republican party [1], the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and the Country of Law party. The main opposition is composed of several smaller parties joined in the Justice Bloc.
Summary of the 2008 Armenian presidential election
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serzh Sargsyan | Republican Party of Armenia | 862,369 | 52.82% |
| Levon Ter-Petrossian | 351,222 | 21.50% | |
| Artur Baghdasarian | Rule of Law | 272,427 | 17.70% |
| Vahan Hovhannisian | Armenian Revolutionary Federation | 100,966 | 6.20% |
| Vazgen Manukyan | National Democratic Union | 21,075 | 1.30% |
| Tigran Karapetyan | People's Party | 9,792 | 0.60% |
| Artashes Geghamian | National Unity | 7,524 | 0.46% |
| Arman Melikian | 4,399 | 0.27% | |
| Aram Harutyunyan | National Conciliation Party | 2,892 | 0.17% |
| Total | 1,632,666 | 100.00% | |
| Source: defacto.am | |||
| Parties | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party of Armenia (Hayastani Hanrapetakan Kusaktsutyun, "Հայաստանի Հանրապետական կուսակցություն") | 458,258 | 33.91 | 64 | +33 |
| Prosperous Armenia (Bargavadj Hayastan Kusaktsutyun, "Բարգավաճ Հայաստան կուսակցություն") | 204,483 | 15.13 | 18 | +18 |
| Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Hay Heghapokhakan Dashnaktsutiun, "Հայ Հեղափոխական Դաշնակցություն") | 177,907 | 13.16 | 16 | +5 |
| Rule of Law (Orinants Erkir, "Օրինաց Երկիր") | 95,324 | 7.05 | 9 | –10 |
| Heritage (Zharangutiun, "Ժառանգություն") | 81,048 | 6.00 | 7 | +7 |
| United Labour Party (Miavorvats Ashkhatankayin Kusaksutyun, "Միավորված աշխատանքային կուսակցություն") | 59,271 | 4.39 | — | –6 |
| National Unity (Azgayin Miabanutyun, "Ազգային Միաբանություն") | 49,863 | 3.58 | — | –9 |
| New Times (Nor Zhamanakner, "Նոր Ժամանակներ") | 47,060 | 3.48 | — | ±0 |
| People's Party (Zhoghovrdakan Kusaktsutyun, "Ժողովրդական կուսակցություն") | 37,044 | 2.74 | — | |
| Union Party (Dashink Kusaktsutyun "Դաշինք" կուսակցություն) | 32,943 | 2.44 | — | |
| People's Party of Armenia (Hayastani Zhoghovrdakan Kusaktsutyun, "Հայաստանի Ժողովրդական կուսակցություն") | 22,762 | 1.68 | — | |
| Republic Party (Hanrapetutyun Kusaktsutyun, "Հանրապետություն" կուսակցություն) | 22,288 | 1.65 | — | ±0 |
| Impeachment Union (Dashink Impeachment դաշինք "Իմպիչմենտ") | 17,475 | 1.29 | — | |
| Others | 17 | –38 | ||
| Total (turnout 59.35%) | 1,375,733 | 100.0 | 131 | — |
| Sources: Central Election Commission | ||||
The first primary election in Armenia was held by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in November 2007 to select the presidential candidate. Some 300.000 people voted.[1][2]
Political corruption is a widespread and growing problem in Armenian society. In 2008, Transparency International reduced its Corruption Perceptions Index for Armenia from 3.0 in 2007[3] to 2.9 out of 10 (a lower score means more perceived corruption); Armenia slipped from 99th place in 2007 to 109th out of 180 countries surveyed (on a par with Argentina, Belize, Moldova, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu).[4] Despite legislative revisions in relation to elections and party financing, corruption either persists or has re-emerged in new forms.[5]
The United Nations Development Programme in Armenia views corruption in Armenia as "a serious challenge to its development."[6]
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