Armenians Brave Heat to Vote on Deputies, Charter
Voters braved sweltering heat Wednesday to cast ballots in Armenia’s first parliamentary elections since the 1991 Soviet collapse and in a referendum on a constitution that would strengthen the presidency.
The Republic bloc, which backs President Levon A. Ter-Petrosyan, was competing against several opposition parties that blame the government for Armenia’s slumping economy.
The new constitution would give the president the power to dissolve Parliament and appoint the Cabinet, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and local government heads. Parliament would have the right to declare no confidence in the government and approve the budget.
At least 60% of the country’s 2.6 million voters cast ballots, according to preliminary figures. Election officials kept the polls open an extra two hours, until 10 p.m., to boost turnout after temperatures reached 104 degrees during the day.
They promised early returns today.
About 200 international observers monitored the elections.
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