Prosperous Armenia

Prosperous Armenia
Leader Naira Zohrabyan
Founded 30 April 2004
Headquarters Yerevan, Armenia
Ideology Economic liberalism[1]
Social conservatism[2]
Pro-Russian[3][4]
Political position Centre-right
European affiliation Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe[5]
International affiliation None
National Assembly
36 / 131
Website
http://www.bhk.am/

Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP; Armenian: Բարգավաճ Հայաստան կուսակցություն, Bargavatch Hayastan kusaktsut’yun, abbreviated as ԲՀԿ BHK), is a political party in Armenia. It was founded by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan on 30 April 2004, when the constituent congress of the party took place.[6]

Armenia's second president Robert Kocharyan was instrumental in creation of the party[7] (some claiming Kocharyan himself established it).[8] Kocharyan's influence and role in the party is a subject of debate. In 2012 "most analysts" believed Kocharyan was "closely involved in the party."[9] Some "believe that Kocharyan is the secret leader of the party",[10] while others believe he has no influence over PAP.[11]

Power base

According to sociologist Karen Sargsyan the party base largely consists of provincial rural population.[12] Kotayk Province is widely considered its stronghold. During the 2012 parliamentary election, Prosperous Armenia came first and won around 47.5% of the vote in that province, well above the national average of 30%.[13] While in the 28th electoral district, which includes the city of Abovyan and several surrounding villages, the party won over 71%.[14]

Electoral record

It debuted in the 2007 Armenian parliamentary elections, winning 18 seats and 14.68% of the votes, making it the second largest political party in parliament. In the 2012 Armenian parliamentary elections, it more than doubled its share of the vote to 30.12%, winning 37 seats and solidifying its position as the main opposition party.

Parliamentary elections

Year
Party-list
Constituency /total
Total seats
+/–
Votes
%
Seats /total
2007
204,483
15.1%
18 /90
8 /41
26 /131
 new
2012
454,673
30.12%
28 /90
9 /41
37 /131
 Increase 11

Presidential elections

Year
Candidate
Votes
%
Rank
2008
endorsed Serzh Sargsyan
2013
did not participate

References

  1. ↑ "Armenia 2012: An introduction to the political party landscape" (PDF). European Friends of Armenia. Retrieved 7 July 2014. The party advocates economic liberalism...
  2. ↑ "Armenia 2012: An introduction to the political party landscape" (PDF). European Friends of Armenia. Retrieved 7 July 2014. Ideology: social and liberal conservatism
  3. ↑ Zasztowt, Konrad (9 April 2013). "Armenia between European and Eurasian Integration Models". Warsaw: Polish Institute of International Affairs. p. 1. Retrieved 8 June 2014. ...the pro-Russian party Prosperous Armenia.
  4. ↑ Khachatrian, Haroutiun (9 May 2007). "Armenia and Russia Agree: Foreign Policy Change Unlikely After Elections". eurasianet.org. Open Society Institute. Prosperous Armenia Party, an avowedly pro-Russian stance.
  5. ↑ "Prosperous Armenia joins AECR". Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Fuller, Liz (April 19, 2007). "Armenia: Election Campaign Gets Off To Uneasy Start". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  7. ↑ Hale, Henry (2014). Patronal Politics. Cambridge University Press. p. 357. ...Prosperous Armenia was a kind of political insurance policy by Kocharian...
  8. ↑ "Ashotyan: speech of Armenian president came as response to blackmail, ignorance and stupidity". ARKA News Agency. 13 February 2015. «Prosperous Armenia party was established as a political project of Robert Kocharyan, the second Armenian president, to divide the power resource and ensure the presence of the second president on the country's political arena,» Ashotyan said.
  9. ↑ Harutyunyan, Vahe (14 December 2012). "Armenian Opposition Party Shuns Key Election". Institute for War and Peace Reporting.
  10. ↑ "Prosperous Armenia leader undisposed to run for presidency". ARKA News Agency. 21 November 2012.
  11. ↑ "Robert Kocharyan has no relation to Prosperous Armenia - Iskandaryan". news.am. 14 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Realpolitik Կարեն Սարգսյանի հետ" (in Armenian). 1in.am. 14 February 2015. around 6:00
  13. ↑ "Բարգավաճ Հայաստան Կուսակցության մարզերում ստացած ձայներն` ըստ տոկոսների". armlur.am (in Armenian). 14 May 2012.
  14. ↑ http://res.elections.am/images/doc/resultarm06.05.12.xls


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.