Absent Voters Are President’s Most Powerful Resource, Says Armenian

ABSENT VOTERS ARE PRESIDENT’S MOST POWERFUL RESOURCE, SAYS ARMENIAN EXPERT

13:34 ~U 07.02.13

The Armenian citizens not residing in the country appear to be the
most powerful resource increasing the incumbent president’s re-election
chances, according Armen Badalyan, a political engineer.

At a news conference on Thursday, the expert said that Serzh Sargsyan
can be already considered elected thanks to such a resource.

“Those who are absent from the country are his biggest resource because
their votes will be rigged in the president’s favor. That makes up
about 300,000-400,000 ballots,” he said. “His supporters and the part
of the society which always votes for the authorities, include about
200,000 people. In case the Rule of Law party’s electorate and some
from Prosperous Armenia vote [in the president’s favor], the number
will amount to 1 million votes. So the others won’t catch up with
the figure, no matter their votes,” he said.

The expert noted that a candidate’s political platform is just one
component of the campaign, which should enable him to do everything
possible to sound convincing to the voter.

From: Baghdasarian