Armenian Prime Minister Sarkisian wins presidential election
20 February 2008
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian won the presidential election in Armenia on 19 February. According to complete but preliminary data released by the Central Election Commission, Sarkisian won the presidential ballot with 52.86 percent of the vote; his closest challenger, former President Levon Ter-Petrossian, placed a distant second with 21.5 percent, followed by former parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian (16.67 percent), Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun candidate Vahan Hovannisian (6.2 percent); and former Prime Minister and National Democratic Union Chairman Vazgen Manukian (1.28 percent); the remaining four candidates polled less than 1 percent of the vote. Voter turnout was estimated at 69 percent.
About 400 foreign observers have been monitoring the election. There were widespread complaints of ballot stuffing, multiple voting, violent voter intimidation, beatings and even kidnapping at polling stations. Ter-Petrosian announced that he organises a rally in the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, to protest that elections have been marred by serious violations. Election observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe stated that the presidential election was conducted mostly in line with the country's international commitments, although further improvements are necessary to address remaining challenges. "Compared to the previous presidential elections, significant progress was noted with regard to the preparation and conduct of the electoral process. However, the whole electoral environment and reported interferences still have to be carefully assessed. The EU will continue to support the reinforcement of democracy in Armenia via its Neighbourhood Policy," said Marie Anne Isler Beguin, Head of the European Parliament delegation.
