February 10, 2003 - 19:05 AMT
ACTING ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN LEADER ACCORDING TO LATEST SOCIOLOGICAL SURVEY
Acting Armenian president Robert Kocharian keeps on enjoying the largest support of the population on the threshold of the forthcoming presidential elections February 19. "Globe News" analytic agency has held the last public opinion survey allowed by the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia in 10 regions of the country and in Yerevan. 3000 people representing all suffrage age categories were asked. According to the results of the survey, as reported by "De Facto" agency, if the elections had been held February 9, Robert Kocharian would have collected 55.6% of votes, Stepan Demirchian - 18.7%, Artashes Geghamian - 16%, Vazgen Manukian - 4.1% and Aram Karapetian 2.9%. All the other candidates collected 2.7% of the votes of the respondents. The hesitating electorate made 14.4%. Another survey was held by "PR Research" Moscow center, which questioned 2200 respondents, 1000 of which were residents of Yerevan, and 1200 - those of the regions. Approximately the same notion was formed there. 56.3% of the interviewed were ready to vote for the acting president. Stepan Demirchian is the second - 19.3%, he is followed by Artashes Geghamian 15%, Vazgen Manukian 3.9%, Aram Karapetian 3%.