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PM SARGSYAN: SIX YEARS OF SERVICE LEAVES LEGACY OF 'CONTRASTS'
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/53311/armenia_prime_minister_tigran_sargsyan_resignation
ANALYSIS | 04.04.14 | 16:08
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Tigran Sargsyan, Armenia's 11th Prime Minister, who resigned Thursday,
is one of the rare leaders of the executive who appeared in the top
echelons of power as a technocratic character espousing European
ideas and standing out for his world outlook.
The 54-year-old, appointed to the position in April 2008 after a decade
of work as Central Bank chairman, is active in online social networks,
has appeared at informal events wearing jeans and other casual attire,
enjoys playing the guitar, and had at times given advice to farmers
on how best to milk their cows, etc. In the last several months of
his tenure as prime minister, Sargsyan showed himself as a staunch
pro-Eurasian, something that perhaps rather reflected Armenia's
overall foreign policy that took a U-turn last September.
Tigran Sargsyan (no relation to President Serzh Sargsyan) could be
described as a "prime minister of contrast". It was during his term in
office that in 2009, amid the global economic crisis, Armenia recorded
the second worst rate of recession in the world. By contrast, a small
nation like Armenia managed to become producer of its own tablets
and smartphones only a few years later and that success was also
largely ascribed to the Sargsyan government known to have encouraged
the development of the IT sector.
It was during Sargsyan's time in office in 2011 that Forbes ranked
Armenia as the world's second worst economy, next to Madagascar. But
two years later, another prestigious international report, Doing
Business, placed Armenia among leaders of post-Soviet space by the
ease of doing business.
Sargsyan's resignation follows very acrimonious exchange of barbs
with former President Robert Kocharyan over major policy issues at
the beginning of this year. It started with PM Sargsyan's accusing
Kocharyan of inflating a "construction bubble" that later burst
with negative consequences for the economy. Ex-president Kocharyan
responded: "A worthless prime minister is a luxury for the country to
keep". Sargsyan's opponents also criticized him for trying to find
the roots of his 'failures' in the economic and social policies of
the preceding governments.
Sargsyan, who found himself at the center of an offshore scandal
following allegations made by a local publication last spring and is
also known to have been criticized for "selling out" Armenia's gold
reserves, did not avoid appearing in awkward situations as well.
During one public event organized by the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) Sargsyan acted "strangely" and sounded "odd" in making
a public speech, which led observers to conclude he was drunk.
He later denied having used any alcohol. "Unfortunately, I wasn't
drunk," he said, blaming the technical equipment for the 'odd'
sound effect.
Of all the controversial statements made or said to have been
made by Prime Minister Sargsyan one appears to stand out for his
critics. In one media interview, asked why nothing is being done to
curb out-migration, Sargsyan, reportedly, said: "But what shall we do,
let people stay and make a revolution?"
Migration as well as other problems like poverty, social polarization,
low incomes, inflation, etc. will now be for the next prime minister
and government to tackle. Meanwhile, it is not known yet what Sargsyan,
a member of the RPA, will do next. Few observers doubt, however, that
with an impressive CV like his, the father of three and grandfather
of one will have any difficulty whatsoever in finding a new job. One
local newspaper wrote today that Sargsyan may continue his career at
a leading international financial institution.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/53311/armenia_prime_minister_tigran_sargsyan_resignation
ANALYSIS | 04.04.14 | 16:08
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Tigran Sargsyan, Armenia's 11th Prime Minister, who resigned Thursday,
is one of the rare leaders of the executive who appeared in the top
echelons of power as a technocratic character espousing European
ideas and standing out for his world outlook.
The 54-year-old, appointed to the position in April 2008 after a decade
of work as Central Bank chairman, is active in online social networks,
has appeared at informal events wearing jeans and other casual attire,
enjoys playing the guitar, and had at times given advice to farmers
on how best to milk their cows, etc. In the last several months of
his tenure as prime minister, Sargsyan showed himself as a staunch
pro-Eurasian, something that perhaps rather reflected Armenia's
overall foreign policy that took a U-turn last September.
Tigran Sargsyan (no relation to President Serzh Sargsyan) could be
described as a "prime minister of contrast". It was during his term in
office that in 2009, amid the global economic crisis, Armenia recorded
the second worst rate of recession in the world. By contrast, a small
nation like Armenia managed to become producer of its own tablets
and smartphones only a few years later and that success was also
largely ascribed to the Sargsyan government known to have encouraged
the development of the IT sector.
It was during Sargsyan's time in office in 2011 that Forbes ranked
Armenia as the world's second worst economy, next to Madagascar. But
two years later, another prestigious international report, Doing
Business, placed Armenia among leaders of post-Soviet space by the
ease of doing business.
Sargsyan's resignation follows very acrimonious exchange of barbs
with former President Robert Kocharyan over major policy issues at
the beginning of this year. It started with PM Sargsyan's accusing
Kocharyan of inflating a "construction bubble" that later burst
with negative consequences for the economy. Ex-president Kocharyan
responded: "A worthless prime minister is a luxury for the country to
keep". Sargsyan's opponents also criticized him for trying to find
the roots of his 'failures' in the economic and social policies of
the preceding governments.
Sargsyan, who found himself at the center of an offshore scandal
following allegations made by a local publication last spring and is
also known to have been criticized for "selling out" Armenia's gold
reserves, did not avoid appearing in awkward situations as well.
During one public event organized by the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) Sargsyan acted "strangely" and sounded "odd" in making
a public speech, which led observers to conclude he was drunk.
He later denied having used any alcohol. "Unfortunately, I wasn't
drunk," he said, blaming the technical equipment for the 'odd'
sound effect.
Of all the controversial statements made or said to have been
made by Prime Minister Sargsyan one appears to stand out for his
critics. In one media interview, asked why nothing is being done to
curb out-migration, Sargsyan, reportedly, said: "But what shall we do,
let people stay and make a revolution?"
Migration as well as other problems like poverty, social polarization,
low incomes, inflation, etc. will now be for the next prime minister
and government to tackle. Meanwhile, it is not known yet what Sargsyan,
a member of the RPA, will do next. Few observers doubt, however, that
with an impressive CV like his, the father of three and grandfather
of one will have any difficulty whatsoever in finding a new job. One
local newspaper wrote today that Sargsyan may continue his career at
a leading international financial institution.