WHO WILL PA GO TO?
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments26643.html
Published: 15:14:55 - 22/06/2012
The parliamentary discussion of the government's program indicated the
key role of Prosperous Armenia in the parliamentary status quo. In
fact, Prosperous Armenia has become the cover of the parliamentary
opposition. This cover cannot be hanging in the air because it will
drop on the head of the opposition and will squeeze it. Meanwhile,
none of the two government poles needs a squeezed opposition.
For Robert Kocharyan who is getting more and more ambitious towards
both Serzh Sargsyan and his administration, the opposition is an
essential factor, and the key issue is to keep it under cover. Hence,
either Robert Kocharyan, or Serzh Sargsyan will sustain PA. At the
same time, during the ongoing struggle for this party they will hold
this cover above the opposition together by either edges until one
of them is able to hold the cover alone.
All the opposition can do is to accommodate itself comfortably under
it or to get out of it and stand in the scorching sun or simply fight
with Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan for Prosperous Armenia,
which is the worst option, of course.
Another option for the opposition is to think about a new scope in
which case neither Serzh Sargsyan, nor Robert Kocharyan will be able
to cover this scope with PA because it is not big enough
The new scope will not be another populous rally or street protests.
The new scope supposes new content, new civil benchmarks which will
force PA to open, thus depriving Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan
of the possibility to control the opposition.
By the way, it is not accidental that the criminal and oligarchic
segment has launched a counterattack and return of those who had
departed began after the opposition intentionally or unintentionally
took a place under Prosperous Armenia.
It is also significant that the criticism of Prosperous Armenia
focuses on Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, there is no other focus,
there are no other names.
PA does not seem to enter into conceptual debate on division of
politics and business.
PA does not seem to focus on the tax and customs system, the
shortcomings there, especially customs machinations, corruption risks.
To say that tax and customs reforms are needed or a light tax burden
for SMEs is necessary means to say nothing. Even the government is
saying these things. Meanwhile, the opposition or its alternative
is expected to reveal the mechanisms of corruption, protectionism,
calescence of business and government. In Armenia the role of the
opposition is not declarative criticism but revelation of specific
mechanisms.
The point is that when one reveals specific mechanisms, defines
the scope of involved subjects and points to the names of those
responsible, the society is provided with guidelines for control,
thus ensuring additional guarantees for their own honesty.
However, this is not the problem of PA. The problem of PA is to
cover the opposition which this party has perfectly done. Soon PA
will need to institutionalize this solution, independent from who PA
will eventually go to, Robert Kocharyan or Serzh Sargsyan.
In addition, Robert Kocharyan needs PA not only to come to power. The
internal status of opposition is equally important for Robert Kocharyan
to ensure his presence in domestic affairs. Therefore, it is possible
that Sargsyan and Kocharyan will finally agree on this presence not
to wear off in the domestic fight as a ground zero for the new system.
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments26643.html
Published: 15:14:55 - 22/06/2012
The parliamentary discussion of the government's program indicated the
key role of Prosperous Armenia in the parliamentary status quo. In
fact, Prosperous Armenia has become the cover of the parliamentary
opposition. This cover cannot be hanging in the air because it will
drop on the head of the opposition and will squeeze it. Meanwhile,
none of the two government poles needs a squeezed opposition.
For Robert Kocharyan who is getting more and more ambitious towards
both Serzh Sargsyan and his administration, the opposition is an
essential factor, and the key issue is to keep it under cover. Hence,
either Robert Kocharyan, or Serzh Sargsyan will sustain PA. At the
same time, during the ongoing struggle for this party they will hold
this cover above the opposition together by either edges until one
of them is able to hold the cover alone.
All the opposition can do is to accommodate itself comfortably under
it or to get out of it and stand in the scorching sun or simply fight
with Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan for Prosperous Armenia,
which is the worst option, of course.
Another option for the opposition is to think about a new scope in
which case neither Serzh Sargsyan, nor Robert Kocharyan will be able
to cover this scope with PA because it is not big enough
The new scope will not be another populous rally or street protests.
The new scope supposes new content, new civil benchmarks which will
force PA to open, thus depriving Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan
of the possibility to control the opposition.
By the way, it is not accidental that the criminal and oligarchic
segment has launched a counterattack and return of those who had
departed began after the opposition intentionally or unintentionally
took a place under Prosperous Armenia.
It is also significant that the criticism of Prosperous Armenia
focuses on Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, there is no other focus,
there are no other names.
PA does not seem to enter into conceptual debate on division of
politics and business.
PA does not seem to focus on the tax and customs system, the
shortcomings there, especially customs machinations, corruption risks.
To say that tax and customs reforms are needed or a light tax burden
for SMEs is necessary means to say nothing. Even the government is
saying these things. Meanwhile, the opposition or its alternative
is expected to reveal the mechanisms of corruption, protectionism,
calescence of business and government. In Armenia the role of the
opposition is not declarative criticism but revelation of specific
mechanisms.
The point is that when one reveals specific mechanisms, defines
the scope of involved subjects and points to the names of those
responsible, the society is provided with guidelines for control,
thus ensuring additional guarantees for their own honesty.
However, this is not the problem of PA. The problem of PA is to
cover the opposition which this party has perfectly done. Soon PA
will need to institutionalize this solution, independent from who PA
will eventually go to, Robert Kocharyan or Serzh Sargsyan.
In addition, Robert Kocharyan needs PA not only to come to power. The
internal status of opposition is equally important for Robert Kocharyan
to ensure his presence in domestic affairs. Therefore, it is possible
that Sargsyan and Kocharyan will finally agree on this presence not
to wear off in the domestic fight as a ground zero for the new system.