Presidential elections were held in Armenia on 16 March 1998, with a second round on 30 March.[1] The result was a victory for independent candidate Robert Kocharyan, who won 58.9% of the vote in the second round. Turnout was 63.5% in the first round and 68.1% in the second.[2]
The first round was held on 16 March 1998.[3] Prime Minister and acting President Robert Kocharyan and Karen Demirchyan, the leader of Soviet Armenia from 1974 to 1988, won the most votes: 38.5% and 30.5% respectively.[4] Demirchyan, who came in second, had been absent from politics for 10 years and had been in business.[5]
Demirchyan was seen as a good old man from the Soviet times who could "return to the certainties of the past and distaste for mafia capitalism personified by Ter-Petrosyan's rule."[5] Demirchyan was very popular among the Armenian public.[6][7][8] A poll quoted by Western diplomats, showed that Demirchyan had the support of the 53% of Armenians, while Kocharyan was favored by only 36%.[9] He was also preferable for the West, since he had more moderate approach to the Karabakh conflict, while Kocharyan was seen as more likely to take a hard line because of his deep connections with Karabakh (Kocharyan is a native of the region and was previously president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).[5] Demirchyan was also favored by Russian leaders, who considered Kocharyan an obstacle to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Russia's foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov openly endorsed Demirchyan, while Kocharyan was depicted by Russian television as "pro-Western" and "a radical."[10]
The second round of the election was held on March 30 between Kocharyan and Demirchyan. Kocharyan won with 58.9% of the vote. The final results showed Demirchyan having only 40.1% of the vote.[4] The British Helsinki Human Rights Group claimed that "ordinary Armenians turned to Robert Kocharian as someone untainted by mafia connections and the intrigues of Yerevan politics."[5] The OSCE observation mission described the first round as "deeply flawed,"[11] while their final report stated that the mission found "serious flaws" and that the election did not meet the OSCE standards.[12] Although Demirchyan didn't officially dispute the election results, he never accepted them and did not congratulate Kocharyan.[13][14]
Hrant Mikayelian, researcher at the Caucasus Institute, estimated, based on turnout analysts, that actual results of the first round were as follows: Kocharyan at 32.6%, Demirchyan at 33.5%, Manukyan at 13.3% and Badalyan at 12%. As for the final result, Mikayelian estimated that Kocharyan would still win if no electoral violations took place, but with a smaller margin: 50.6% vs Demirchyan's 48.3%.[15]
ReferencesEdit
^Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I, p329 ISBN0-19-924958-X
^Reeve, Philip (16 March 1998). "Slick old fox set for comeback in Armenia poll". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
^"Armenians vote for president Monday". CNN. 15 March 1998. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
^"Strong turnout as Armenians choose president". CNN. 16 March 1998. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
^"Key Armenian leaders assassinated". The Jamestown Foundation. 28 October 1999. Retrieved 25 May 2013. Although he considered himself cheated of victory, Demirchian tacitly accepted that outcome, bid his time and ultimately went for a deal with the party of power--Sarkisian's Republicans.
^. kavkaz-uzel.eu (in Russian). 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019.
External linksEdit
(in Armenian) Նախագահական ընտրություններ 1998 Internews Armenia
(in Russian) 1998-ի նախագահական ընտրությունները Internews Armenia
August 25, 2023
1998, armenian, presidential, election, presidential, elections, were, held, armenia, march, 1998, with, second, round, march, result, victory, independent, candidate, robert, kocharyan, vote, second, round, turnout, first, round, second, 1996, march, 1998, fi. Presidential elections were held in Armenia on 16 March 1998 with a second round on 30 March 1 The result was a victory for independent candidate Robert Kocharyan who won 58 9 of the vote in the second round Turnout was 63 5 in the first round and 68 1 in the second 2 1998 Armenian presidential election 1996 16 March 1998 first round 30 March 1998 second round 2003 Nominee Robert Kocharyan Karen DemirchyanParty Independent People s PartyPopular vote 908 613 618 764Percentage 58 91 40 12 President before electionLevon Ter Petrosyan Elected President Robert Kocharyan Contents 1 Overview 2 Results 2 1 Analysis 3 References 4 External linksOverview EditThe first round was held on 16 March 1998 3 Prime Minister and acting President Robert Kocharyan and Karen Demirchyan the leader of Soviet Armenia from 1974 to 1988 won the most votes 38 5 and 30 5 respectively 4 Demirchyan who came in second had been absent from politics for 10 years and had been in business 5 Demirchyan was seen as a good old man from the Soviet times who could return to the certainties of the past and distaste for mafia capitalism personified by Ter Petrosyan s rule 5 Demirchyan was very popular among the Armenian public 6 7 8 A poll quoted by Western diplomats showed that Demirchyan had the support of the 53 of Armenians while Kocharyan was favored by only 36 9 He was also preferable for the West since he had more moderate approach to the Karabakh conflict while Kocharyan was seen as more likely to take a hard line because of his deep connections with Karabakh Kocharyan is a native of the region and was previously president of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic 5 Demirchyan was also favored by Russian leaders who considered Kocharyan an obstacle to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict Russia s foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov openly endorsed Demirchyan while Kocharyan was depicted by Russian television as pro Western and a radical 10 The second round of the election was held on March 30 between Kocharyan and Demirchyan Kocharyan won with 58 9 of the vote The final results showed Demirchyan having only 40 1 of the vote 4 The British Helsinki Human Rights Group claimed that ordinary Armenians turned to Robert Kocharian as someone untainted by mafia connections and the intrigues of Yerevan politics 5 The OSCE observation mission described the first round as deeply flawed 11 while their final report stated that the mission found serious flaws and that the election did not meet the OSCE standards 12 Although Demirchyan didn t officially dispute the election results he never accepted them and did not congratulate Kocharyan 13 14 Results EditCandidatePartyFirst roundSecond roundVotes Votes Robert KocharyanIndependent545 93838 50908 61358 91Karen DemirchyanPeople s Party of Armenia431 96730 46618 76440 12Vazgen ManukyanNational Democratic Union172 44912 16Sergey BadalyanArmenian Communist Party155 02310 93Paruyr HayrikyanUnion for National Self Determination76 2125 37Davit ShahnazaryanIndependent6 7980 48Artashes GeghamyanNational Accord Party6 3140 45Vigen KhachatryanDemocratic Liberal Party3 9990 28Hrant KhachatryanConstitutional Rights Union2 9430 21Aram G SargsyanDemocratic Party2 7100 19Yuri MkrtchyanIndependent2 5110 18Ashot BleyanNew Path1 5590 11Against all9 5090 6714 8900 97Total1 417 932100 001 542 267100 00Valid votes1 417 93297 381 542 26798 38Invalid blank votes38 1772 6225 4351 62Total votes1 456 109100 001 567 702100 00Registered voters turnout2 293 63663 482 300 81668 14Source Nohlen et al Analysis Edit Hrant Mikayelian researcher at the Caucasus Institute estimated based on turnout analysts that actual results of the first round were as follows Kocharyan at 32 6 Demirchyan at 33 5 Manukyan at 13 3 and Badalyan at 12 As for the final result Mikayelian estimated that Kocharyan would still win if no electoral violations took place but with a smaller margin 50 6 vs Demirchyan s 48 3 15 References Edit Dieter Nohlen Florian Grotz amp Christof Hartmann 2001 Elections in Asia A data handbook Volume I p329 ISBN 0 19 924958 X Nohlen et al p337 Armenians to choose new president today Hurriyet Daily News 16 March 1998 Retrieved 15 April 2013 a b Summer 1998 Elections Today International Foundation for Electoral Systems 7 4 26 ISSN 1073 6719 a b c d The Armenian Parliamentary Elections 30th May 1999 PDF British Helsinki Human Rights Group pp 1 2 Archived from the original PDF on 30 August 2016 Retrieved 26 April 2013 Reeve Philip 16 March 1998 Slick old fox set for comeback in Armenia poll The Independent Archived from the original on 2022 05 01 Retrieved 15 April 2013 Armenians vote for president Monday CNN 15 March 1998 Retrieved 31 March 2013 Strong turnout as Armenians choose president CNN 16 March 1998 Retrieved 31 March 2013 Bennett Vanora 31 March 1998 Armenians Vote for New President Los Angeles Times Retrieved 17 April 2013 Sanamyan Emil 27 October 2019 From the Archives In 1990s Russia Saw Kocharyan as Obstacle to Karabakh Deal USC Institute of Armenian Studies Archived from the original on 15 August 2020 Armenian elections go to run off BBC News 19 March 1998 Retrieved 8 April 2013 Republic of Armenian Presidential Election March 16 and 30 1998 Final Report Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights 9 April 1998 Retrieved 8 April 2013 Report on Armenia s parliamentary election May 30 1999 Washington DC Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 1999 p 5 Retrieved 6 April 2013 Key Armenian leaders assassinated The Jamestown Foundation 28 October 1999 Retrieved 25 May 2013 Although he considered himself cheated of victory Demirchian tacitly accepted that outcome bid his time and ultimately went for a deal with the party of power Sarkisian s Republicans Esli by vybory v Armenii byli chestnymi Alternativnyj podschet 1990 e gg kavkaz uzel eu in Russian 16 December 2018 Archived from the original on 29 June 2019 External links Edit in Armenian Նախագահական ընտրություններ 1998 Internews Armenia in Russian 1998 ի նախագահական ընտրությունները Internews Armenia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1998 Armenian presidential election amp oldid 1168703763, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
