Pages

Sunday 17 February 2008

'Super Tuesday'

I recommend this excellent piece from the editor of ArmeniaNow John Hughes which sums up perfectly my thoughts:

“The prospect of change breeds hope. It is why college kids in America back Barack Obama and why middle-class parents of college kids in Armenia will vote for Ter-Petrosyan.

Hope stirs the buzz, and the Ter-Petrosyan campaign has it again after a week during which it received the blessing of the Heritage Party – an endorsement that could be worth up to 200,000 votes – significant in a pool of 2.3 million from which 1.15 million plus 1 would secure a victory (if the entire registration voted).

It is hope darkened by deceit but reawakened in hearts such as the woman who was in our newsroom Wednesday.

She told about campaigners coming to her door, offering her 5,000 drams (about $16) if she would vote for Sargsyan [prime minister – Unzipped].

“Who can I turn to, to report them?” the woman asked. Painfully, the answer is no one. To do so would only worsen her circumstances.

Well meaning people here are fed up with such arrogant and insulting behavior, and know they can expect at least five more years of it under a Republican Party-led government.

[…] Armenia needs new direction. It may take an old face to turn it that way. Just so, given the chance, Ter-Petrosyan keeps the promise he’s made to get out of the way as soon as the course has been steadied and a new captain empowered to steer the Ship of State."

*photo by Photolure, via ArmeniaNow

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

middle-class parents of college kids in Armenia will vote for Ter-Petrosyan.

Funny coz all the students I know, except for two, say they won't be voting for Ter-Petrossian.

I wonder what methodology Hughes used for his conclusion?

Still, time will tell. Democracy is a complex thing and I don't believe any of the candidates can be tied down to a specific candidate.

Indeed, a counter argument to Hughes' is that what little middle class exists favors stability and not unpredictable change, but anyway.

Not long to wait now.

Onnik Krikorian said...

"and I don't believe any of the candidates can be tied down to a specific CLASS."

artmika said...

I know many students and middle-class people who will vote for Ter-Petrosyan. But I know also middle-class people who will vote for Serj. Yes, it is difficult to tie down any of the candidates support to a specific class.

But I would completely agree with his last statement that "Armenia needs new direction" and given with circumstances and realities
"It may take an old face to turn it that way".