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THREAT OF ABSOLUTISM
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments24054.html
Published: 12:43:06 - 03/11/2011
Hovik Abrahamyan, underlining the importance of the upcoming
elections in Armenia, stated that it is important to hold free and
democratic elections from the point of European integration. The
German ambassador to Armenia also stated that the upcoming elections
may play an important role regarding the EU Association Agreement.
What can "hinder" Serzh Sargsyan to hold free and fair elections
without prejudice to himself and the current status of the Republican
Party?
In the beginning it was predicted that the obstacle could be the
force led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, which threatened to take all active
citizens to streets. But, judging by the situation, Serzh Sargsyan
succeeded in neutralizing that force through the dialogue, or maybe,
even with the help of a promise to "pick out" several parliamentary
seats for them. It is already evident that Ter-Petrosyan accepted the
new rules of the game - if formerly the Armenian National Congress
dwelt on the change of power and full transformation of the system,
now it announces about pursuing as many parliamentary seats as to be
able to launch impeachment. So, it is necessary to presume that if
the Congress solves this task and receives 15% of mandates, it will
have no reason to argue the election outcome.
Who else can "hinder" the free elections? Retired oligarchs who used
to bring votes for the Republican Party? But Serzh Sargsyan is trying
not to offend them and not to become hostile to them. Though they
have no political support to which they could go if offended by Serzh
Sargsyan. Behind the scene, Kocharyan's internal-governmental pole
had almost been formed but now the lawmakers of the Prosperous Armenia
Party can breathe freely - they don't have to go to the opposition. It
has been agreed that they will be allies for another 5-6 years. And
they will again help the Republicans to receive votes to at least
maintain the current number of seats. If in spring Tsarukyan used to
say that he was going to get an overwhelming majority in parliament,
now he has significantly lowered the bar.
It is noteworthy that the society is happy that Serzh Sargsyan was
able to repress Kocharyan's ambitions. Interestingly, such moods can
be observed within the opposition too. It is good that Kocharyan's
forces failed to "break through" but Serzh Sargsyan's "victory"
means that absolutism will be kept and strengthened in the country.
Now, each will consider it their duty to give an oath of loyalty to
Serzh Sargsyan or at least not to "hinder" him. The vertical of the
authorities is becoming stronger, and it is only left to find out
whether Armenia is happy with such alignment of forces. In spring,
the society had a chance to break down the absolute vertical and to
create a real multi-polar parliament which could reflect the interests
of the citizens and could have counterbalances. But there is still
a chance evidence to which is the words of the ANC representative
that the involvement in the parliament is necessary to achieve Serzh
Sargsyan's resignation.
But we thought the parliament had to have leverages of influence on
state arbitrary decisions, to deprive the president of absolute power
and make him take into account the society. If the parliament is this
way, the society can accept any president, even Serzh Sargsyan.
So, nothing "hinders" to hold free and fair elections in spring. Sure
if, nothing changes in the approaches of political forces in these
months and if they do not realize the danger of absolutism in the
country.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments24054.html
Published: 12:43:06 - 03/11/2011
Hovik Abrahamyan, underlining the importance of the upcoming
elections in Armenia, stated that it is important to hold free and
democratic elections from the point of European integration. The
German ambassador to Armenia also stated that the upcoming elections
may play an important role regarding the EU Association Agreement.
What can "hinder" Serzh Sargsyan to hold free and fair elections
without prejudice to himself and the current status of the Republican
Party?
In the beginning it was predicted that the obstacle could be the
force led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, which threatened to take all active
citizens to streets. But, judging by the situation, Serzh Sargsyan
succeeded in neutralizing that force through the dialogue, or maybe,
even with the help of a promise to "pick out" several parliamentary
seats for them. It is already evident that Ter-Petrosyan accepted the
new rules of the game - if formerly the Armenian National Congress
dwelt on the change of power and full transformation of the system,
now it announces about pursuing as many parliamentary seats as to be
able to launch impeachment. So, it is necessary to presume that if
the Congress solves this task and receives 15% of mandates, it will
have no reason to argue the election outcome.
Who else can "hinder" the free elections? Retired oligarchs who used
to bring votes for the Republican Party? But Serzh Sargsyan is trying
not to offend them and not to become hostile to them. Though they
have no political support to which they could go if offended by Serzh
Sargsyan. Behind the scene, Kocharyan's internal-governmental pole
had almost been formed but now the lawmakers of the Prosperous Armenia
Party can breathe freely - they don't have to go to the opposition. It
has been agreed that they will be allies for another 5-6 years. And
they will again help the Republicans to receive votes to at least
maintain the current number of seats. If in spring Tsarukyan used to
say that he was going to get an overwhelming majority in parliament,
now he has significantly lowered the bar.
It is noteworthy that the society is happy that Serzh Sargsyan was
able to repress Kocharyan's ambitions. Interestingly, such moods can
be observed within the opposition too. It is good that Kocharyan's
forces failed to "break through" but Serzh Sargsyan's "victory"
means that absolutism will be kept and strengthened in the country.
Now, each will consider it their duty to give an oath of loyalty to
Serzh Sargsyan or at least not to "hinder" him. The vertical of the
authorities is becoming stronger, and it is only left to find out
whether Armenia is happy with such alignment of forces. In spring,
the society had a chance to break down the absolute vertical and to
create a real multi-polar parliament which could reflect the interests
of the citizens and could have counterbalances. But there is still
a chance evidence to which is the words of the ANC representative
that the involvement in the parliament is necessary to achieve Serzh
Sargsyan's resignation.
But we thought the parliament had to have leverages of influence on
state arbitrary decisions, to deprive the president of absolute power
and make him take into account the society. If the parliament is this
way, the society can accept any president, even Serzh Sargsyan.
So, nothing "hinders" to hold free and fair elections in spring. Sure
if, nothing changes in the approaches of political forces in these
months and if they do not realize the danger of absolutism in the
country.