| Republican Party of Armenia Հայաստանի Հանրապետական Կուսակցություն |
|
|---|---|
| Leader | Serzh Sargsyan |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Yerevan |
| Membership | 140,000 (claimed)[1] |
| Ideology | National conservatism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| National Assembly |
64 / 131
|
| Website | |
| http://www.hhk.am/ | |
| Politics of Armenia Political parties Elections |
|
The Republican Party of Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստանի Հանրապետական Կուսակցություն, Hayastani Hanrapetakan Kusaktsutyun, HHK) is a national conservative[2] political party in Armenia. It was the first political party in independent Armenia to be founded (2 April 1990) and registered (14 May 1991). It is the largest party of the centre-right in Armenia, and claims to have 140,000 members.[1] The party controls most government bodies in Armenia.[3]
The Economist magazine has described the HHK as a "typical post-Soviet 'party of power' mainly comprising senior government officials, civil servants, and wealthy business people dependent on government connections."[4]
Contents |
At the 2003 parliamentary elections on May 25, the party received 23.5% of the popular vote, winning 31 out of 131 seats. At the last parliamentary elections on May 12, 2007, the party received 33.91% of the popular vote, winning 64 out of 131 seats. The former prime minister, Andranik Markaryan, was the leader of the party. Current President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, is the chairman of HHK board.
During the 2003 Armenian parliamentary elections, the party's slogan was "Let's rely on our minds and our arms."[5] During the 2007 parliamentary elections, the party's slogan was "For you, Armenia!"[6]
The Republican Party's national conservative ideology is based on tseghakron, an early 20th century Armenian nationalist ideology (roughly translated as "nation-religion"). It was formulated by Garegin Nzhdeh and holds that the Armenian national identity and state should carry religious significance for all ethnic Armenians.[5]
According to Eurasianet, 2007 surveys put popular support for the Republican Party at 10 to 16 percent of voters.[5] In a 2007 telephone survey of 2000 people, the British Populus opinion polling center put support for the Republican Party at 31 percent of the voters.[7]
Most of Armenia's so-called "oligarchs" (government-connected entrepreneurs who enjoy de facto monopoly on lucrative forms of economic activity) are now affiliated with the HHK.[3]
In an HHK congress held in Yerevan in November 2007, then Prime Minister and presidential candidate Serge Sargsyan acknowledged that bribery, nepotism and other corrupt practices are widespread in Armenia. "Tax evasion and corruption must be regarded as a disgraceful and condemnable phenomenon," said Sarkisian. "We must not take into account family ties and friendship and must not regard as friends and supporters those people who will avoid paying taxes and tolerate this vicious phenomenon." However, his opponents have long accused him of sponsoring the oligarchs enjoying the economic kickbacks.[3]
HHK-affiliated entrepreneurs who enjoy de facto monopolies in Armenia include: