Headquarters Yerevan, Armenia International affiliation ALDE Party | Founded 2008 Political position Centre-right | |
Ideology Classical liberalismMarket liberalism | ||
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.
Contents
- Formation and goals
- 2011 protests
- 2012 parliamentary election
- 2015 Armenian constitutional referendum
- References
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.
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.
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. 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.
2012 parliamentary election
After the 2012 parliamentary elections Armenian National Congress gained 7 seats in the National Assembly of Armenia.
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".