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EurasiaNet, NY
Feb 15 2008
In Armenian Politics, Candidates¡¯ Wives Stay Behind the Scenes
Marianna Grigoryan: 02/15/08
Former US President Bill Clinton may have presented his wife and
current presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton to voters as a
"two-for-one" deal, but in Armenia, election campaigns and
candidates¡¯ wives decidedly do not mix.
That message was reinforced February 13, when presidential candidate
Serzh Sarkisian came to a Yerevan church to celebrate a traditional
festival for newlyweds. Public curiosity was aroused not so much by
the sight of the usually phlegmatic prime minister, white rose in
hand, attempting to dance with the brides. The interest came from the
rare appearance of his wife, Rita.
It was perhaps the first time that Rita Sarkisian, a music teacher in
late middle age, has been seen at a campaign event with her husband.
But the Sarkisian campaign says that they do not see her absence as a
political loss.
"What need is there to involve the prime minister¡¯s wife in the
election campaign?" wondered Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesperson for the
governing Republican Party of Armenia, which Sarkisian heads. "It
does not correspond with the tactics that we have adopted. The prime
minister, both during the parliamentary and presidential elections,
was campaigning alone and we think that this is the right approach
for success."
In a traditional, male-dominated society like Armenia, sociologists
say, the notion of a candidate¡¯s wife taking part in a campaign
remains a risky proposition. "Politics in Armenia is viewed as
strictly ¢Æa man¡¯s business¡¯ and, according to our Armenian
mentality, a woman must not interfere with it," commented Aharon
Adibekian, director of the Sociometer polling organization. "By . . .
having [their wives] take part in their election campaigns,
candidates run the risk of it having a negative impact on their
progress, rather than it winning them votes."
Involving a candidate¡¯s family in an Armenian election campaign
would require the use of specialists and consultants, Adibekian
added. "For that, however, one needs to be politically mature in the
first place," he continued. "A wife should also be prepared
politically to know where the limits are, and how to behave."
The candidates -- and their wives -- largely agree.
Presidential candidate Vazgen Manukian, leader of the National
Democratic Union, describes his wife, Varduhi, a mathematician and
computer programmer, as "completely politically mature," and capable
of providing "serious help" to his campaign, but cautions that
society is not yet ready for such assistance.
"Unlike the way it is in the West, women¡¯s involvement in [public
life] in Armenia is not yet accepted, and sometimes it may be
perceived incorrectly," he told EurasiaNet. Varduhi Manukian
reportedly works on her husband¡¯s campaign, but does not appear with
him in public.
Rival presidential candidate Artur Baghdasarian, who is considered to
be one of the opposition frontrunners, is perhaps the only candidate
who speaks about his family during meetings with voters. But
Baghdasarian¡¯s wife, Anna, the 30-something director of a language
instruction center in Yerevan, is also nowhere to be seen in her
husband¡¯s campaign.
Pregnancy, not cultural prejudice, is the cause, according to Susanna
Abrahamian, spokesperson for Baghdasarian¡¯s Orinats Yerkir (Country
of Law) Party. "[F]or sure, it is not encouraged to go to the
provinces and get emotional in that condition. Otherwise, believe me;
she would be involved as well."
Other wives, however, directly rebuff such a notion. "As an Armenian
woman, I think it would be better that I silently assist my husband,
rather than show political activism," commented Anush Pluzian, the
spouse of presidential candidate Artashes Geghamian, a former mayor
of Yerevan and the chairman of the National Unity Party.
The role of an Armenian woman, continued Pluzian, a lecturer at the
State Engineering University of Armenia, is to understand her
husband, not to "obstruct him."
"I don¡¯t think that my going to voter meetings together with my
husband would bring any big change or provide any major help," she
said. "I¡¯d better stay at home."
That view is reflected in other aspects of the country¡¯s political
life. More than 52 percent of Armenia¡¯s population of 2.97 million
are women, according to state statistics, but, in terms of women¡¯s
participation in politics, Armenia ranks last in the South Caucasus.
Women comprise 9.2 percent of the members of the country¡¯s 131-seat
parliament, compared with 11.3 percent in Azerbaijan and 9.4 percent
in Georgia. Only one woman has ever run for president in Armenia ¡î
Dignity Party leader Lyudmila Harutiunian in 1998 ¡î but she withdrew
from the race well before election day.
Even for a former First Lady, Lyudmila Ter-Petrosian, wife of
opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, appearing in the public eye
is less than an easy fit. A German language specialist by training
who once worked as a radio journalist and now heads a charitable
non-governmental organization, Mrs. Ter-Petrosian stands with the
crowds at her husband¡¯s rallies, occasionally in the back rows.
On this point, and possibly no other, the Ter-Petrosian and Sarkisian
campaigns agree.
"At this moment, when the election campaign is on, there are perhaps
more important things than the inclusion of the first president¡¯s
wife in the front rows [at a rally]," affirmed Ter-Petrosian campaign
spokesperson Arman Musinian. "There is no need for that."
Practices vary in the region, though. Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili¡¯s Dutch-born wife, Sandra Roelofs, was featured
prominently in his recent re-election campaign, singing folk songs at
rallies or collecting voters¡¯ written requests. In Azerbaijan,
Mehriban Aliyeva, wife of President Ilham Aliyev, is a member of
parliament, though reportedly considered off-limits for media
criticism.
In Armenia, psychologist Elina Asrian says that voters can perhaps
more readily accept scenes from a candidate¡¯s home life than of
women as independent political forces, or a candidate¡¯s closest
advisor.
"Political ads and election campaigns in Armenia are built on the
principle of ¢Æhero vs. anti-hero¡¯ and here it is, indeed, not
correct to involve wives," Asrian commented. "For Armenians, a family
is accepted as something sacred, and on that level there is hardly
anything higher."
In keeping with that trend, the Ter-Petrosian campaign has reportedly
issued a DVD about the ex-president¡¯s family life, while the rival
Baghdasarian camp says that one about the 39-year-old former
parliamentary speaker will be appearing soon.
But will they win votes? It all depends on the "correct"
presentation, stresses election strategist Armen Badalian. "Because
no matter how much they talk about European integration," he
concluded, "we are still an Asian country."
Editor¡¯s Note: Marianna Grigoryan is a reporter for the
ArmeniaNow.com weekly in Yerevan.
Feb 15 2008
In Armenian Politics, Candidates¡¯ Wives Stay Behind the Scenes
Marianna Grigoryan: 02/15/08
Former US President Bill Clinton may have presented his wife and
current presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton to voters as a
"two-for-one" deal, but in Armenia, election campaigns and
candidates¡¯ wives decidedly do not mix.
That message was reinforced February 13, when presidential candidate
Serzh Sarkisian came to a Yerevan church to celebrate a traditional
festival for newlyweds. Public curiosity was aroused not so much by
the sight of the usually phlegmatic prime minister, white rose in
hand, attempting to dance with the brides. The interest came from the
rare appearance of his wife, Rita.
It was perhaps the first time that Rita Sarkisian, a music teacher in
late middle age, has been seen at a campaign event with her husband.
But the Sarkisian campaign says that they do not see her absence as a
political loss.
"What need is there to involve the prime minister¡¯s wife in the
election campaign?" wondered Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesperson for the
governing Republican Party of Armenia, which Sarkisian heads. "It
does not correspond with the tactics that we have adopted. The prime
minister, both during the parliamentary and presidential elections,
was campaigning alone and we think that this is the right approach
for success."
In a traditional, male-dominated society like Armenia, sociologists
say, the notion of a candidate¡¯s wife taking part in a campaign
remains a risky proposition. "Politics in Armenia is viewed as
strictly ¢Æa man¡¯s business¡¯ and, according to our Armenian
mentality, a woman must not interfere with it," commented Aharon
Adibekian, director of the Sociometer polling organization. "By . . .
having [their wives] take part in their election campaigns,
candidates run the risk of it having a negative impact on their
progress, rather than it winning them votes."
Involving a candidate¡¯s family in an Armenian election campaign
would require the use of specialists and consultants, Adibekian
added. "For that, however, one needs to be politically mature in the
first place," he continued. "A wife should also be prepared
politically to know where the limits are, and how to behave."
The candidates -- and their wives -- largely agree.
Presidential candidate Vazgen Manukian, leader of the National
Democratic Union, describes his wife, Varduhi, a mathematician and
computer programmer, as "completely politically mature," and capable
of providing "serious help" to his campaign, but cautions that
society is not yet ready for such assistance.
"Unlike the way it is in the West, women¡¯s involvement in [public
life] in Armenia is not yet accepted, and sometimes it may be
perceived incorrectly," he told EurasiaNet. Varduhi Manukian
reportedly works on her husband¡¯s campaign, but does not appear with
him in public.
Rival presidential candidate Artur Baghdasarian, who is considered to
be one of the opposition frontrunners, is perhaps the only candidate
who speaks about his family during meetings with voters. But
Baghdasarian¡¯s wife, Anna, the 30-something director of a language
instruction center in Yerevan, is also nowhere to be seen in her
husband¡¯s campaign.
Pregnancy, not cultural prejudice, is the cause, according to Susanna
Abrahamian, spokesperson for Baghdasarian¡¯s Orinats Yerkir (Country
of Law) Party. "[F]or sure, it is not encouraged to go to the
provinces and get emotional in that condition. Otherwise, believe me;
she would be involved as well."
Other wives, however, directly rebuff such a notion. "As an Armenian
woman, I think it would be better that I silently assist my husband,
rather than show political activism," commented Anush Pluzian, the
spouse of presidential candidate Artashes Geghamian, a former mayor
of Yerevan and the chairman of the National Unity Party.
The role of an Armenian woman, continued Pluzian, a lecturer at the
State Engineering University of Armenia, is to understand her
husband, not to "obstruct him."
"I don¡¯t think that my going to voter meetings together with my
husband would bring any big change or provide any major help," she
said. "I¡¯d better stay at home."
That view is reflected in other aspects of the country¡¯s political
life. More than 52 percent of Armenia¡¯s population of 2.97 million
are women, according to state statistics, but, in terms of women¡¯s
participation in politics, Armenia ranks last in the South Caucasus.
Women comprise 9.2 percent of the members of the country¡¯s 131-seat
parliament, compared with 11.3 percent in Azerbaijan and 9.4 percent
in Georgia. Only one woman has ever run for president in Armenia ¡î
Dignity Party leader Lyudmila Harutiunian in 1998 ¡î but she withdrew
from the race well before election day.
Even for a former First Lady, Lyudmila Ter-Petrosian, wife of
opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, appearing in the public eye
is less than an easy fit. A German language specialist by training
who once worked as a radio journalist and now heads a charitable
non-governmental organization, Mrs. Ter-Petrosian stands with the
crowds at her husband¡¯s rallies, occasionally in the back rows.
On this point, and possibly no other, the Ter-Petrosian and Sarkisian
campaigns agree.
"At this moment, when the election campaign is on, there are perhaps
more important things than the inclusion of the first president¡¯s
wife in the front rows [at a rally]," affirmed Ter-Petrosian campaign
spokesperson Arman Musinian. "There is no need for that."
Practices vary in the region, though. Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili¡¯s Dutch-born wife, Sandra Roelofs, was featured
prominently in his recent re-election campaign, singing folk songs at
rallies or collecting voters¡¯ written requests. In Azerbaijan,
Mehriban Aliyeva, wife of President Ilham Aliyev, is a member of
parliament, though reportedly considered off-limits for media
criticism.
In Armenia, psychologist Elina Asrian says that voters can perhaps
more readily accept scenes from a candidate¡¯s home life than of
women as independent political forces, or a candidate¡¯s closest
advisor.
"Political ads and election campaigns in Armenia are built on the
principle of ¢Æhero vs. anti-hero¡¯ and here it is, indeed, not
correct to involve wives," Asrian commented. "For Armenians, a family
is accepted as something sacred, and on that level there is hardly
anything higher."
In keeping with that trend, the Ter-Petrosian campaign has reportedly
issued a DVD about the ex-president¡¯s family life, while the rival
Baghdasarian camp says that one about the 39-year-old former
parliamentary speaker will be appearing soon.
But will they win votes? It all depends on the "correct"
presentation, stresses election strategist Armen Badalian. "Because
no matter how much they talk about European integration," he
concluded, "we are still an Asian country."
Editor¡¯s Note: Marianna Grigoryan is a reporter for the
ArmeniaNow.com weekly in Yerevan.