2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election explained

Election Name:2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election
Country:Nagorno-Karabakh
Previous Election:2005
Next Election:2015
Seats For Election:All 33 seats in the National Assembly
Election Date:23 May 2010
Leader1:Arayik Harutyunyan
Party1:Free Motherland
Last Election1:10
Seats1:14
Percentage1:46.39
Leader2:Ashot Ghulian
Party2:Democratic Party of Artsakh
Last Election2:10
Seats2:6
Percentage2:28.58
Leader3:Vitaly Balasanian
Party3:Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Last Election3:3
Seats3:6
Percentage3:20.18
Leader4:
Party4:Independents
Last Election4:8
Seats4:7
Percentage4:
Prime Minister
Before Election:Arayik Harutyunyan
Before Party:Free Motherland
After Election:Arayik Harutyunyan
After Party:Free Motherland

Parliamentary elections were held in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on 23 May 2010.[1] [2]

Background

Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence from Azerbaijan in 1991. The First Nagorno-Karabakh War took place between 1988 and 1994 which resulted in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Armenian support, becoming de facto independent from Azerbaijan. However it has not been internationally recognised and Azerbaijan still claims the area as part of its state.[3]

Several changes to the election process were made since the previous election in 2005. Whereas previously, 22 of the parliament's 33 seats were filled using party-list proportional representation and 11 using first-past-the-post, the distribution for these elections is 17–16. Another change concerns the lowering of the election threshold from 10% to 6% (for political parties) and from 15% to 8% (for electoral blocs).

A total of 94,900 voters are registered for the election, about 66% of the total population of Nagorno-Karabakh.[4]

Contesting parties

Before the elections, it became clear very few opposition parties would contest. Four parties contesting the 17 list-based seats are registered: Free Motherland (FM), led by Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, the Democratic Party of Artsakh (DPA), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARM) and the Communist Party of Artsakh (CPA). Of these parties, only the communists did not support president Bako Sahakyan in the 2007 election. 44 More candidates stand for election in the 16 FPTP constituencies.

Results

With about 50% of the votes counted, Free Motherland led the count with 45.8% of the votes. The DPA was at 30.7% and the ARF at 18.2%. The CP was below the electoral threshold of 6% (5.34%), which means it might be difficult for them to get a seat.[5]

The Communist Party failed to cross the electoral threshold and did not win any seats.[6]

Reactions

About 120 international observers from France, Russia, USA, Italy, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Argentina, Ireland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Iran, Netherlands, Canada, Slovakia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transnistria, and others, as well as a big group of observers from Armenia observed the elections.[7] [8] Later the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast stated that Iran had not delegated any observers.[9] Azerbaijan made a black list of the international observers who visited Nagorno-Karabakh and declared them personae non-gratae.[10]

Various international organisations and countries issued statements refusing to recognise the 2010 elections in Nagorno-Karabakh, among them the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe,[11] the European Union,[12] the United Kingdom,[13] France,[14] Iran,[15] Russia,[16] Turkey,[17] and Lithuania.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maximiliano Herrera . Electoral Calendar- world elections,US elections,presidential election,world parties . Mherrera.org . 11 March 2010.
  2. News: NKR votes 2010: Absence of opposition in Karabakh’s upcoming polls. Hayrumyan. Naira. 12 March 2010. Armenia Now. 18 May 2010. 30 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100330121238/http://www.armenianow.com/karabakh/21557/parliamentary_elections_in_karabakh. dead.
  3. News: Karabakh holds disputed elections . 8 March 2009 . 19 June 2005 . BBC Online.
  4. News: NKR Votes 2010: Candidates for parliament seats united in uncompromising stance on Karabakh settlement. Hayrumyan. Naira. 20 May 2010. Armenia Now. 23 May 2010. 23 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100523015731/http://armenianow.com/karabakh/23228/parliamentary_elections_nkr. dead.
  5. News: Free Homeland Party Wins 45.8 percent of Votes in Karabakh Elections. 24 May 2010. RIA Novosti/Yerevan Report. 24 May 2010. Stepanakert. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100526105451/http://www.yerevanreport.com/2010/05/24/free-homeland-party-wins-45-8-percent-of-votes-in-karabakh-elections/. 26 May 2010.
  6. News: На парламентских выборах в НКР победила партия "Свободная родина". 25 May 2010. Karabakh News.
  7. "Free Homeland party leads count in Karabakh parliamentary vote ." RIA Novosti. 24 May 2010.
  8. News: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HELD IN THE NKR. 25 May 2010. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. 28 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150423105943/http://www.nkr.am/en/news/2010-05-25/265/. 23 April 2015. dead.
  9. http://www.day.az/news/politics/211143.html Иран опроверг информацию об участии своих наблюдателей на так называемых «парламентских выборах» в Нагорном Карабахе
  10. News: Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry: The foreigners, who observed the "elections" in Nagorno Karabakh, will be banned from arriving in Azerbaijan. 26 May 2010. APA Azerbaijan. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120311003937/http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=123095. 11 March 2012.
  11. http://www.osce.org/item/44073.html OSCE Chairperson-in-Office comment on the 'parliamentary election' in Nagorno-Karabakh
  12. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=disputed-region-of-nagorno-karabakh-elects-new-parliament-2010-05-23 Disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh elects new parliament
  13. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100621w0002.htm Q&A: Nagorno Karabakh – Lord Howell of Guildford
  14. http://www.a1plus.am/ru/politics/2010/05/26/france Франция не признает выборы в НКР
  15. http://www.payvand.com/news/10/may/1293.html Iran does not recognize parliamentary poll in Nagorno-Karabakh: FM Spokesman
  16. http://asbarez.com/81198/karabakh-voters-flock-to-polls-for-parliamentary-elections/ Karabakh Voters Flock to Polls for Parliamentary Elections
  17. http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-210757-turkey-condemns-election-in-karabakh.html Turkey condemns election in Karabakh
  18. http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2272041 Lithuania confirms non-recognition of "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh