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"TURK", "FAKE PATRIOT" OR VOICE OF THE PEOPLE?: SOCIAL MEDIA ABUZZ WITH DEBATE OVER MP POSTANJYAN
http://www.armenianow.com/news/politics/48968/serzh_sargsyan_zaruhi_postanjyan_pace
POLITICS | 04.10.13 | 15:26
Photolure
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Oppositional Heritage faction member Zaruhi Postanjyan's question to
president Serzh Sargsyan during the Q&A following his speech from
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rostrum with
reference to the president's alleged large-scale gambling incident,
was a mine that exploded causing a lava-like emanation of the Armenian
domestic political field.
During the PACE session on Wednesday in Strasbourg, the fiery MP
Postanjyan poised several questions to the president, but one has
put her place on the PACE delegation in jeopardy.
"Have you been to a European casino lately, and -- since you are
known to the public as a gambler -- did you lose 70 million euros
($95 million) there and who paid for your loss?", Postanjyan asked.
"Mrs. Postanjyan, I am deeply convinced that I represent the Armenian
people and I am proud of that," replied the Sargsyan.
"I have never been to any casino in Europe, I don't gamble,
and unfortunately I don't have 70 million euros at my disposal,"
the president said. "If I had such a chance I would donate part of
[that sum] to you to make sure you are happy with life and do not
accumulate so much malice."
Social networks and mass media criticize not only Postanjyan's
question, but also question her being fit to be a political figure
at all. The Facebook community hasher had not yet fully grinded the
"puzzling" election of the Prosecutor General, when the oppositional
politician found herself at its mercy. Anti-Postanjyans started calling
her a "Turk", "vulgar", "grant-eater", "fake patriot", seeing her as
someone who aired her dirty laundry in public and betrayed her nation
by her unbefitting conduct.
Meanwhile, her supporters state she is an elected MP, enjoys public
affection and respect, and had a right to ask such a question.
Reporter Mher Arshakyan wrote: "No need to blame Postanjyan. She simply
had no alternative, and had to raise the issue. With her question she
ridiculed the fact that Serzh Sargsyan is seen a discreet political
figure. And only the casino topic could be the question to ask such
a figure. The question itself demonstrates how Serzh Sargsyan put
himself in an awkward position, not as a gambler, but as a leader
who treats all his citizens with neglect."
Postanjyan herself said in an interview to RFE/RL that within 30
seconds' time she tried to ask all the questions that almost 80
percent of Armenia's population has concerns about.
When asked about the source of her information about the president's
alleged gambling habit, she responded: "I will make a reference to the
claim by Serzh Sarsyan's representative about gambling. It is Victor
Dallakyan [deputy chief of president's staff], who personally spoke
about it in public, and is still the president's representative at
the National Assembly."
In reference to the Republicans' sharp criticism against her,
suggesting that she get punished, she says: "If there are people who
have to criticize, let them first criticize the fact that poverty
in Armenia has reached a huge scale with a great number of people
starving today, and so has the migration, and the huge scale of
shadow economy, let them think about that and condemn that. If I am at
fault for that let them throw stones at me. I have nothing to fear,
I am ready to resist and continue the fight, which matters greatly
to me, because I am ready for a fight. I will go till the very end,
so that my children have a motherland."
http://www.armenianow.com/news/politics/48968/serzh_sargsyan_zaruhi_postanjyan_pace
POLITICS | 04.10.13 | 15:26
Photolure
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Oppositional Heritage faction member Zaruhi Postanjyan's question to
president Serzh Sargsyan during the Q&A following his speech from
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rostrum with
reference to the president's alleged large-scale gambling incident,
was a mine that exploded causing a lava-like emanation of the Armenian
domestic political field.
During the PACE session on Wednesday in Strasbourg, the fiery MP
Postanjyan poised several questions to the president, but one has
put her place on the PACE delegation in jeopardy.
"Have you been to a European casino lately, and -- since you are
known to the public as a gambler -- did you lose 70 million euros
($95 million) there and who paid for your loss?", Postanjyan asked.
"Mrs. Postanjyan, I am deeply convinced that I represent the Armenian
people and I am proud of that," replied the Sargsyan.
"I have never been to any casino in Europe, I don't gamble,
and unfortunately I don't have 70 million euros at my disposal,"
the president said. "If I had such a chance I would donate part of
[that sum] to you to make sure you are happy with life and do not
accumulate so much malice."
Social networks and mass media criticize not only Postanjyan's
question, but also question her being fit to be a political figure
at all. The Facebook community hasher had not yet fully grinded the
"puzzling" election of the Prosecutor General, when the oppositional
politician found herself at its mercy. Anti-Postanjyans started calling
her a "Turk", "vulgar", "grant-eater", "fake patriot", seeing her as
someone who aired her dirty laundry in public and betrayed her nation
by her unbefitting conduct.
Meanwhile, her supporters state she is an elected MP, enjoys public
affection and respect, and had a right to ask such a question.
Reporter Mher Arshakyan wrote: "No need to blame Postanjyan. She simply
had no alternative, and had to raise the issue. With her question she
ridiculed the fact that Serzh Sargsyan is seen a discreet political
figure. And only the casino topic could be the question to ask such
a figure. The question itself demonstrates how Serzh Sargsyan put
himself in an awkward position, not as a gambler, but as a leader
who treats all his citizens with neglect."
Postanjyan herself said in an interview to RFE/RL that within 30
seconds' time she tried to ask all the questions that almost 80
percent of Armenia's population has concerns about.
When asked about the source of her information about the president's
alleged gambling habit, she responded: "I will make a reference to the
claim by Serzh Sarsyan's representative about gambling. It is Victor
Dallakyan [deputy chief of president's staff], who personally spoke
about it in public, and is still the president's representative at
the National Assembly."
In reference to the Republicans' sharp criticism against her,
suggesting that she get punished, she says: "If there are people who
have to criticize, let them first criticize the fact that poverty
in Armenia has reached a huge scale with a great number of people
starving today, and so has the migration, and the huge scale of
shadow economy, let them think about that and condemn that. If I am at
fault for that let them throw stones at me. I have nothing to fear,
I am ready to resist and continue the fight, which matters greatly
to me, because I am ready for a fight. I will go till the very end,
so that my children have a motherland."