Armenian National Congress
Armenian National Congress | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Levon Ter-Petrosyan |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Yerevan, Armenia |
| Ideology |
Classical liberalism Market liberalism[1] |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| International affiliation | ALDE Party[2] |
| National Assembly |
7 / 131 |
| Website | |
| http://www.anc.am/ | |
The Armenian National Congress (Armenian: Հայ Ազգային Կոնգրես, Hay Azgayin Kongres) is a political party in Republic of Armenia, led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and formed in 2008. Its direct predecessor was the Pan-Armenian National Movement.
It is often abbreviated as ՀԱԿ or HAK, in keeping with its Armenian spelling, but it is occasionally referred to as ANC in English-language media, including in its official website.
From 2008 to 2013 been a coalition of 13 opposition parties. In 2013, when certain member parties of the coalition lefts, the main member party Pan-Armenian National Movement, during party conference, decided party rename Armenian National Congress.[3][4]
Formation and goals
The website of the Armenian National Congress lists five main goals:
• The immediate release of all political prisoners.
• Attaining complete freedom of speech, access to media, and assembly.
• Truly independent investigation of the crimes of March 1 with the significant participation of International experts.
• Initiation of a dialogue with the authorities about democratic reforms after the fulfillment of at least the first condition.
• Holding of pre-term presidential and parliamentary elections.— Armenian National Congress, official website[5]
2011 protests
During the 2011 Armenian protests, the HAK played a major role in organizing demonstrations and pushing for the government of President Serzh Sargsyan, who defeated Ter-Petrosyan in the 2008 election, to accept the demands of protesters.[6] The death of 10 supporters of Ter-Petrosyan as a result of protests that followed Sargsyan's disputed victory are a major rallying point for protesters.
Relations between the HAK and Heritage, a fellow opposition party, historically have been rocky, with differences in tactics during the 2011 protests widening the rift.[7]
2012 parliamentary election
After the 2012 parliamentary elections Armenian National Congress gained 7 seats in the National Assembly of Armenia.[8]
2015 Armenian constitutional referendum
In the 2015 constitutional referendum in Armenia, ANC been in "no" camp. ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan, stated that "the constitutional changes initiated by Serzh Sargsyan, destroying bases of the state".[9]
External links
References
- ↑ "Ter-Petrosyan: Congress suggests following Constitution instead of preaching "ethno-religious ideology"". ArmeniaNow. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ↑ http://www.aldeparty.eu/en/news/liberalism-armenia-well-rooted-among-anc-country-slippery-slope
- ↑ ANC turns into Armenian National Congress party
- ↑ PANM becomes Armenian National Congress party
- ↑ "Declaration on The Creation of the Armenian National Congress". Armenian National Congress.
- ↑ "Armenia's opposition ANC holds rally on Liberty Square again". People's Daily Online. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ "Stepan Safaryan urges to stop Heritage-ANC confrontation". PanArmenian. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ http://res.elections.am/images/doc/060512.pdf
- ↑ Լևոն Տեր-Պետրոսյան. Նոր Սահմանադրությունը քանդում է պետության հիմքերը
