PETTY POLITICAL BAZAAR
Naira Hayrumyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/country/view/28111
Country - Tuesday, 20 November 2012, 15:08
The idea of parliamentary government was a good opportunity to start
a big political bargaining. If some political forces used to deny any
contacts with one another, now they say they may support each others'
candidates, like ARF and the Armenian National Congress.
The "favorite topic" during the parliamentary elections was the joint
campaign headquarters to monitor the elections which was soon forgotten
since the forces agreed on the division of seats in the parliament.
The parliament is perfectly divided now. No one was left out except
Tevan Poghosyan who was later brought to parliament however, as
Raffi Hovannisian resigned and invited him to take his seat. And
if Stepan Safaryan is elected in the by-election, the picture will
simply be idyllic.
Now, similar bargaining is going on for the government posts. As soon
as they agree, the idea of the parliamentary republic will immediately
be forgotten.
When Gagik Tsarukyan announced that the Prosperous Armenia will not
form a coalition government, he asked the former ministers to wait
till autumn. Apparently, after the presidential elections or perhaps
earlier the party will announce to join the coalition and receive
ministerial portfolios.
ARFD will also demand portfolios. It has already stated that it may
support Serzh Sargsyan if the latter accepts the 7-point list of
demands of the party. The Armenian National Congress may also receive
ministerial portfolios. Hrant Bagratyan has not ruled out that if
Serzh Sargsyan "behaves" himself, they may support him.
Actually, the PAP is reportedly after the first vice-prime minister,
and the minister of justice doesn't rule out constitutional amendments
to establish this office. Besides, the PAP would like to have back
several "money-making" ministries. The ARF may be back to the social
affairs. The Congress might take up justice, for example.
Now, Serzh Sargsyan has two tasks - not to allow the negotiations
to finish before the necessary time to rule out someone's sudden
nomination and to ensure obligatory nomination of the "run-up
candidate" not to appear "offside". In this situation, the best nominee
for the "run-off", strange though it may seem, is Anush Sedrakyan.
Naira Hayrumyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/country/view/28111
Country - Tuesday, 20 November 2012, 15:08
The idea of parliamentary government was a good opportunity to start
a big political bargaining. If some political forces used to deny any
contacts with one another, now they say they may support each others'
candidates, like ARF and the Armenian National Congress.
The "favorite topic" during the parliamentary elections was the joint
campaign headquarters to monitor the elections which was soon forgotten
since the forces agreed on the division of seats in the parliament.
The parliament is perfectly divided now. No one was left out except
Tevan Poghosyan who was later brought to parliament however, as
Raffi Hovannisian resigned and invited him to take his seat. And
if Stepan Safaryan is elected in the by-election, the picture will
simply be idyllic.
Now, similar bargaining is going on for the government posts. As soon
as they agree, the idea of the parliamentary republic will immediately
be forgotten.
When Gagik Tsarukyan announced that the Prosperous Armenia will not
form a coalition government, he asked the former ministers to wait
till autumn. Apparently, after the presidential elections or perhaps
earlier the party will announce to join the coalition and receive
ministerial portfolios.
ARFD will also demand portfolios. It has already stated that it may
support Serzh Sargsyan if the latter accepts the 7-point list of
demands of the party. The Armenian National Congress may also receive
ministerial portfolios. Hrant Bagratyan has not ruled out that if
Serzh Sargsyan "behaves" himself, they may support him.
Actually, the PAP is reportedly after the first vice-prime minister,
and the minister of justice doesn't rule out constitutional amendments
to establish this office. Besides, the PAP would like to have back
several "money-making" ministries. The ARF may be back to the social
affairs. The Congress might take up justice, for example.
Now, Serzh Sargsyan has two tasks - not to allow the negotiations
to finish before the necessary time to rule out someone's sudden
nomination and to ensure obligatory nomination of the "run-up
candidate" not to appear "offside". In this situation, the best nominee
for the "run-off", strange though it may seem, is Anush Sedrakyan.