Armenia's Presidential elections will go
to a second round of voting after a day
of drama, intrigue, and controversy ended
with the incumbent Robert Kocharyan failing
to secure a second term by the narrowest
margin.
Gunshots were fired, a brawl disrupted a
political rally, and a Member of Parliament
was seriously wounded from knife stabs Tuesday
as Armenia's Presidential election campaign
completed its second week.
On Election Day, Wednesday, a woman named
Louisa who lives in the Arabkir area of
Yerevan received a knock on her door and
was offered 5,000 drams (about $8.60) if
she would sign an agreement to vote for
President Robert Kocharyan. She was also
offered a ride to and from her voting precinct
station.
Throughout Armenia the name Demirchyan is
well known. Most knowledge, however, is
attached to memories of Karen Demirchyan,
the former First Secretary of the Central
Bureau of the Communist Party of (Soviet)
Armenia.
Decision 2003: Geghamyan
Goes from Candidate to Kingmaker
By Vahan
Ishkhanian
ArmeniaNow reporter
Artashes Geghamyan's 17 per cent share of
the votes in the first round of the presidential
elections places him in the position of
kingmaker for the run-off. His support could
assist the challenger Stepan Demirchyan
to overhaul incumbent Robert Kocharyan,
particularly if some of the latter's "soft"
vote starts to ebb away.
It has been a season of many emotions, Decision 2003. Doves
of peace were offered and officers to enforce that peace were
stationed around the Central Elections Commission.
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