Apricot Country Party

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Apricot Country Party
Երկիր ծիրանի կուսակցություն
LeaderZaruhi Postanjyan[1]
Founded15 March 2017 (2017-03-15)[2]
HeadquartersYerevan
IdeologyLiberalism
Progressivism
Pro-Europeanism[3]
Political positionCentre
National affiliationHomeland Salvation Movement (2020-2021)
Slogan"Towards Ararat"[4]
Website
yerkirtsirani.am

The Apricot Country Party (Armenian: Երկիր ծիրանի կուսակցություն, romanizedYerkir tsirani kusakts’ut’yun), also known as Yerkir Tsirani is a political party in Armenia.

History[edit]

The party was established in March 2017, prior to the 2017 Yerevan City Council election.[5] Party leader Zaruhi Postanjyan, a former member of the Heritage party, was nominated to run for Mayor of Yerevan.[6] Following the election, Postanjyan came in third place.

On 9 November 2020, the party signed a joint declaration with the other member parties of the Homeland Salvation Movement calling on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign during the 2020–2021 Armenian protests.[7]

The party does not have any political representation in the National Assembly and currently acts as an extra-parliamentary force.

Ideology[edit]

The parties manifesto calls for the development of strong and progressive statehoods of both Armenia and Artsakh, while opposing authoritarianism. The party encourages economic reform and immigration to Armenia, increasing environmental protection, and improving human rights for all citizens.[8][9] The party advocates for allowing the Armenian Diaspora to be allowed to vote in elections and giving the Armenian Diaspora political representation within the National Assembly. The party also supports the recognition of Artsakh as an independent state.[3][10]

In terms of foreign policy, the party supports Armenia's European integration and believes that Armenia belongs to the Pan-European family of states.[3]

Electoral record[edit]

The party participated in the 2017 Yerevan City Council election.[11] The party received 7.75% of the vote, gaining 5 seats in the Yerevan City Council.

The party also participated in the 2018 Yerevan City Council election, but lost all 5 seats in the Yerevan City Council following the election, gaining just 1.39% of the vote.

The party has not participated in any national elections. Prior to the 2018 Armenian parliamentary election, the party declined to participate and boycotted the election, due to concerns over electoral fraud and corruption.[12][13] The party did not participate in the 2021 Armenian parliamentary elections.

Prior to the 2023 Yerevan City Council election, the party announced it would join the Mother Armenia Alliance. Following the election, the alliance won 12 seats in the Yerevan City Council.[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Yerkir Tsirani party of Armenia: CC head is subjected to political persecution". news.am. 7 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Փոստանջյանը մտավ ԿԸՀ ու բացականչեց. "Երկիր ծիրանին" ողջունում է բոլորիդ". Առավոտ". A1Plus. 7 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c ""Երկիր ծիրանի"-ն հրապարակել է ծրագրային դրույթներն ու հռչակագիրը". www.civilnet.am.
  4. ^ ""Երկիր ծիրանի". Զարուհի Փոստանջյանի կուսակցությունը որդեգրում է "Դեպի Արարատ" կարգախոսը". Armtimes.com.
  5. ^ "Ելք, Երկիր Ծիրանի, ՀՀԿ. ԿԸՀ-ն հաստատեց".
  6. ^ "Yerkir Tsirani party of Armenia: For past 30 years there has been emptiness that demands new ideas from us". news.am. 7 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Arminfo: 17 քաղաքական կուսակցություններ պահանջում են Նիկոլ Փաշինյանի և նրա թիմի հրաժարականը". arminfo.info.
  8. ^ "In case". www.ecolur.org.
  9. ^ "Goodbye to failed republic - statement of Yerkir Tsirani (video)". A1Plus. 6 June 2023.
  10. ^ ""Երկիր Ծիրանին" մերժում է "ՀՀ խորհրդարանական ընտրություններ" անվանումով կեղծ նախաձեռնությունը". news.am. 7 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Երեւանի ավագանու ընտրություններ. "Երկիր Ծիրանի" կուսակցության առաջին տասնյակը հայտնի է". news.am. 7 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Arminfo: Yerkir Tsirani party is boycotting early parliamentary elections".
  13. ^ "Zaruhi Postanjyan to sue "Gallup"". www.aravot-en.am.
  14. ^ "In Yerevan's Mayoral Election, Coming In First Won't Be Enough". September 14, 2023.

External links[edit]