CEC registers eight presidential candidates
Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) held a special meeting today, registering eight candidates in the February 18 presidential election.
They are: Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) leader, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, Liberty Party leader, former member of opposition bloc Armenian National Congress (ANC) Hrant Bagratyan, National Self-Determination Union leader Paruyr Hayrikyan, former NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan, Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian, specialist in epic studies Vardan Sedrakyan, political scientist Andrias Ghukasyan and National Consent party leader Aram Harutyunyan.
A total of 15 candidates had initially submitted registration documents to CEC.
National Press Club chairwoman Narine Mkrtchyan, Taron Abrahamyan, Robert Aharonyan, Ruben Ayvazyan, Pavlik Sargsyan and Robert Simonyan failed to pay the election pledge of AMD 8 million and were denied registration.
Earlier, Robert Aharonyan, Taron Abrahamyan and PAP member Ruben Ayvazyan withdrew from the race.
The registered candidates can withdraw from the race until February 8.