Exit poll projects ruling party win in Armenia ‘milestone’ vote

The ruling Republican Party leads parliamentary elections in Armenia, held for the first time since constitutional reforms transformed the ex-Soviet country into a parliamentary republic, an exit poll says.

President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party receives 46 percent of the vote, while an opposition alliance led by Gagik Tsarukian, a former arm wrestler and one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen, comes in second with 25%, according to an exit poll conducted by Armenia’s Sociologists’ Association and Baltic Surveys/Gallup International.

Two more opposition forces — the Elk Coalition and the nationalist Dashnaktsutyun party -– are set to enter the parliament with 10% and 5% of the vote respectively, pollster Gevorg Poghosyan of Armenia’s Sociologists’ Association tells a news conference.

— AFP