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COALITION'S DEMISE: ORINATS YERKIR NO LONGER WANTS TO SHARE POWER WITH REPUBLICANS
Politics | 17.04.14 | 10:22
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The ruling Republican Party's only political ally, Orinats Yerkir,
on Wednesday announced its decision to pull out of the coalition
after six years of cooperation with its senior partner.
The Orinats Yerkir political board held a meeting that day, unanimously
deciding that party's continued presence in the coalition was
"problematic" and "inexpedient". At the same time, the party accepted
the applications from its three members who currently hold ministerial
positions - Armen Yeritsyan, Sergo Karapetyan and Samvel Tadevosyan -
on quitting the party.
Orinats Yerkir said that in reality the coalition format has not been
effective as a result of which the notion of the "ruling coalition"
has been supplanted by the notion of the "ruling political force".
"Such a format has never created an opportunity for Orinats Yerkir in
the state administration system for solving many problems and have
its influence in the appointments to key posts," the party said. It
added that before the nomination of the candidate for prime minister
the issue of the candidacy named by Orinats Yerkir was not discussed
within the coalition circles.
Orinats Yerkir believes that Artur Baghdasaryan, who was parliament
speaker for four years and worked as National Security Council
secretary since 2008, had the right to have "a key role in bringing
the country out of the difficult economic situation" together with
the country's president and coalition partners. Orinats Yerkir finds
that the concentration of key posts in the hands of one political
party does not create an opportunity for a real coalitional government.
At the same time, Orinats Yerkir decided to extend the intrigue,
announcing that the decision of the political council will be confirmed
only after discussions at the board's meeting on April 25.
Talking to reporters, Orinats Yerkir parliamentary faction head
Heghine Bisharyan said that they will become opposition, but added
that they will announce it next week.
"There were bills that we had put into circulation together with
opposition forces, signed them. This political decision means that
we will be free in our steps. We have our own vision of the pension
reform. True, we voted in favor of it, because we wanted our citizens
to live in a prosperous country, but we will work on the amendments,
will support our young people so that our citizens could have a secure
retirement," said Bisharyan.
This is not the first time that Orinats Yerkir leaves government
posts and becomes opposition. Still in 2006 party leader Baghdasaryan
resigned as parliament speaker, became opposition and began to
criticize the government. After the 2008 presidential election, in
which Baghdasaryan participated as an opposition candidate, Orinats
Yerkir cut a power-sharing deal with the Republicans becoming their
junior coalition partner. That step admittedly had a negative impact
on Orinats Yerkir's image as the party and its leader had been labeled
traitors by many opposition supporters.
Even though the Republican Party enjoys a clear majority in the
legislature, Orinats Yerkir used to supply additional votes to it
needed for reassurance in key votes. The supply of these few but
sometimes critical votes for the Republicans is, in fact, at risk now.
It is not clear yet whether the ruling party will be able to find
another coalition partner.
A few days ago the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun)
presented a seven-point proposal to the Government. During a news
briefing on Wednesday Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary faction leader
Armen Rustamyan said that if all the seven points are accepted,
they will be ready to share responsibility in a coalitional government.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/53680/armenia_orinats_yerkir_dashnaks_coalition_politics
Politics | 17.04.14 | 10:22
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The ruling Republican Party's only political ally, Orinats Yerkir,
on Wednesday announced its decision to pull out of the coalition
after six years of cooperation with its senior partner.
The Orinats Yerkir political board held a meeting that day, unanimously
deciding that party's continued presence in the coalition was
"problematic" and "inexpedient". At the same time, the party accepted
the applications from its three members who currently hold ministerial
positions - Armen Yeritsyan, Sergo Karapetyan and Samvel Tadevosyan -
on quitting the party.
Orinats Yerkir said that in reality the coalition format has not been
effective as a result of which the notion of the "ruling coalition"
has been supplanted by the notion of the "ruling political force".
"Such a format has never created an opportunity for Orinats Yerkir in
the state administration system for solving many problems and have
its influence in the appointments to key posts," the party said. It
added that before the nomination of the candidate for prime minister
the issue of the candidacy named by Orinats Yerkir was not discussed
within the coalition circles.
Orinats Yerkir believes that Artur Baghdasaryan, who was parliament
speaker for four years and worked as National Security Council
secretary since 2008, had the right to have "a key role in bringing
the country out of the difficult economic situation" together with
the country's president and coalition partners. Orinats Yerkir finds
that the concentration of key posts in the hands of one political
party does not create an opportunity for a real coalitional government.
At the same time, Orinats Yerkir decided to extend the intrigue,
announcing that the decision of the political council will be confirmed
only after discussions at the board's meeting on April 25.
Talking to reporters, Orinats Yerkir parliamentary faction head
Heghine Bisharyan said that they will become opposition, but added
that they will announce it next week.
"There were bills that we had put into circulation together with
opposition forces, signed them. This political decision means that
we will be free in our steps. We have our own vision of the pension
reform. True, we voted in favor of it, because we wanted our citizens
to live in a prosperous country, but we will work on the amendments,
will support our young people so that our citizens could have a secure
retirement," said Bisharyan.
This is not the first time that Orinats Yerkir leaves government
posts and becomes opposition. Still in 2006 party leader Baghdasaryan
resigned as parliament speaker, became opposition and began to
criticize the government. After the 2008 presidential election, in
which Baghdasaryan participated as an opposition candidate, Orinats
Yerkir cut a power-sharing deal with the Republicans becoming their
junior coalition partner. That step admittedly had a negative impact
on Orinats Yerkir's image as the party and its leader had been labeled
traitors by many opposition supporters.
Even though the Republican Party enjoys a clear majority in the
legislature, Orinats Yerkir used to supply additional votes to it
needed for reassurance in key votes. The supply of these few but
sometimes critical votes for the Republicans is, in fact, at risk now.
It is not clear yet whether the ruling party will be able to find
another coalition partner.
A few days ago the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun)
presented a seven-point proposal to the Government. During a news
briefing on Wednesday Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary faction leader
Armen Rustamyan said that if all the seven points are accepted,
they will be ready to share responsibility in a coalitional government.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/53680/armenia_orinats_yerkir_dashnaks_coalition_politics