OPPOSITION ACKNOWLEDGES RPA MONOPOLY
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country25760.html
Published: 11:46:09 - 10/04/2012
The idea of the abolition of the monopoly of the Republican Party
which the Armenian National Congress brought up seems reasonable and
realistic. Levon Zurabyan explained the cooperation with the coalition
party Prosperous Armenia in the joint campaign staff by the intention
to fight the Republican monopoly. Heritage and ARFD also joined this
initiative which brings up the issue of the necessity to end the
monopoly of the Republicans.
Zurabyan said that the main task should be destruction of the
Republican monopoly which rules both the election process and the
political and economic systems. It is possible to end monopoly only
by way of unification.
Evidently, the RPA is not likely to end monopoly. Moreover, it is
trying to reinforce the monopoly by assuming the responsibility of
holding fair elections. In his first election speech, Serzh Sargsyan
made it clear that the Republican Party is responsible for "free and
fair elections", actually identifying the party with the state.
According to the laws and concept of elections, the ruling party is
responsible for the election as much as the other political forces
since the main principle of any elections must be equal opportunities.
What equal opportunities are concerned if one of the parties introduces
itself as the guarantor of the elections?
The state election commission, the law enforcement bodies and courts
which are not related to the ruling party are supposed to deal with
the fairness and freedom of elections. And if the Republican Party
dwells on guarantees, it commits the first fraud since it indicates
the use of the administrative resource.
It is clear that Serzh Sargsyan makes these speeches with the
understanding that he violates the law. But he keeps stating it to
show that he keeps the situation under control. He says so to scare
his competitors by indicating that the joint campaign staffs and
other measures are meaningless for the RPA is the sole "responsible"
for the elections.
The joint staff should state that Serzh Sargsyan breaks the law. it
needs to demand relevant bodies, and not the ruling party, to deal
with the organization of elections because if other parties recognize
the right of the Republicans to hold elections, the fight against
monopoly and for fair elections will make no sense.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country25760.html
Published: 11:46:09 - 10/04/2012
The idea of the abolition of the monopoly of the Republican Party
which the Armenian National Congress brought up seems reasonable and
realistic. Levon Zurabyan explained the cooperation with the coalition
party Prosperous Armenia in the joint campaign staff by the intention
to fight the Republican monopoly. Heritage and ARFD also joined this
initiative which brings up the issue of the necessity to end the
monopoly of the Republicans.
Zurabyan said that the main task should be destruction of the
Republican monopoly which rules both the election process and the
political and economic systems. It is possible to end monopoly only
by way of unification.
Evidently, the RPA is not likely to end monopoly. Moreover, it is
trying to reinforce the monopoly by assuming the responsibility of
holding fair elections. In his first election speech, Serzh Sargsyan
made it clear that the Republican Party is responsible for "free and
fair elections", actually identifying the party with the state.
According to the laws and concept of elections, the ruling party is
responsible for the election as much as the other political forces
since the main principle of any elections must be equal opportunities.
What equal opportunities are concerned if one of the parties introduces
itself as the guarantor of the elections?
The state election commission, the law enforcement bodies and courts
which are not related to the ruling party are supposed to deal with
the fairness and freedom of elections. And if the Republican Party
dwells on guarantees, it commits the first fraud since it indicates
the use of the administrative resource.
It is clear that Serzh Sargsyan makes these speeches with the
understanding that he violates the law. But he keeps stating it to
show that he keeps the situation under control. He says so to scare
his competitors by indicating that the joint campaign staffs and
other measures are meaningless for the RPA is the sole "responsible"
for the elections.
The joint staff should state that Serzh Sargsyan breaks the law. it
needs to demand relevant bodies, and not the ruling party, to deal
with the organization of elections because if other parties recognize
the right of the Republicans to hold elections, the fight against
monopoly and for fair elections will make no sense.