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CHANGING ATMOSPHERE?: TSARUKYAN SEES IMPACT OF 'POPULAR MOVEMENT', RULING PARTY MEMBERS REMAIN SKEPTICAL
Politics | 31.10.14 | 10:32
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) believes that the
cooperation of non-governing parties and their joint rallies change
the atmosphere in the country. In an interview with Zham.am, Gagik
Tsarukyan said that the authorities see the dissatisfaction of the
people and, hopefully, understand that "old methods and steps will
quickly lead them to an impasse."
Meanwhile, representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
and part of ordinary citizens see no essentially new thing at the
rallies or expect them to produce any serious effect.
In the interview (zham.am) the PAP leader spoke about problems in the
country, saying that the immediate task now is to give "structural
and organizational solutions" to the formed "popular movement",
which is the only way of "turning dissatisfaction into concrete
drastic changes."
"We have no time to wait for long. The economic situation in Armenia
is very difficult, the social conditions of the people get worse day
by day. We need solutions fast and deep. No one will believe empty
promises and assurances. If this uncertainty and the progress of
regression continue, our country will cease to be competitive in the
region," said Tsarukyan, again stressing that the PAP has no enemies
within the country, and despite all the political changes, the state
administration system should work in a normal atmosphere and should
always feel protected.
Reacting to Tsarukyan's statements, spokesman for the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Eduard
Sharmazanov told Panorama.am said that in his interview the PAP leader
repeated what he already said at the rally, simply his thoughts were
presented "in a clearer manner".
Sharmazanov again said that the authorities are very well aware of the
situation, know about problems, as well as how to solve them. Simply,
in contrast to the non-governing forces, according to the deputy
parliament speaker, the government has to refrain from populism.
While opposition forces have repeatedly called for a change of
government and early elections, members of the ruling party and the
government see no grounds for any power change.
Some citizens are also skeptical about the movement of the three
political parties in which the party of Tsarukyan is regarded as a
locomotive. Tsarukyan, one of the wealthiest businessmen in Armenia
whose party was part of the governing coalition until 2012, has also
been accused of evading taxes. People also remember that Tsarukyan is
in-laws with current Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and, therefore,
regard this struggle as artificial and fake. For many the cooperation
between the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the Prosperous Armenia
Party is also ridiculous as many consider the PAP to be a brainchild
of Armenia's second President Robert Kocharyan, whom the ANC accuses
of the bloody suppression of the 2008 post-election protests.
No date of the next rally of the political trio has been announced
yet. The opposition has submitted applications to the Yerevan
municipality for holding events on October 31, November 7 and
November 14.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/58128/armenia_opposition_ruling_party_rally_tsarukyan
From: A. Papazian
Politics | 31.10.14 | 10:32
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) believes that the
cooperation of non-governing parties and their joint rallies change
the atmosphere in the country. In an interview with Zham.am, Gagik
Tsarukyan said that the authorities see the dissatisfaction of the
people and, hopefully, understand that "old methods and steps will
quickly lead them to an impasse."
Meanwhile, representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
and part of ordinary citizens see no essentially new thing at the
rallies or expect them to produce any serious effect.
In the interview (zham.am) the PAP leader spoke about problems in the
country, saying that the immediate task now is to give "structural
and organizational solutions" to the formed "popular movement",
which is the only way of "turning dissatisfaction into concrete
drastic changes."
"We have no time to wait for long. The economic situation in Armenia
is very difficult, the social conditions of the people get worse day
by day. We need solutions fast and deep. No one will believe empty
promises and assurances. If this uncertainty and the progress of
regression continue, our country will cease to be competitive in the
region," said Tsarukyan, again stressing that the PAP has no enemies
within the country, and despite all the political changes, the state
administration system should work in a normal atmosphere and should
always feel protected.
Reacting to Tsarukyan's statements, spokesman for the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Eduard
Sharmazanov told Panorama.am said that in his interview the PAP leader
repeated what he already said at the rally, simply his thoughts were
presented "in a clearer manner".
Sharmazanov again said that the authorities are very well aware of the
situation, know about problems, as well as how to solve them. Simply,
in contrast to the non-governing forces, according to the deputy
parliament speaker, the government has to refrain from populism.
While opposition forces have repeatedly called for a change of
government and early elections, members of the ruling party and the
government see no grounds for any power change.
Some citizens are also skeptical about the movement of the three
political parties in which the party of Tsarukyan is regarded as a
locomotive. Tsarukyan, one of the wealthiest businessmen in Armenia
whose party was part of the governing coalition until 2012, has also
been accused of evading taxes. People also remember that Tsarukyan is
in-laws with current Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and, therefore,
regard this struggle as artificial and fake. For many the cooperation
between the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the Prosperous Armenia
Party is also ridiculous as many consider the PAP to be a brainchild
of Armenia's second President Robert Kocharyan, whom the ANC accuses
of the bloody suppression of the 2008 post-election protests.
No date of the next rally of the political trio has been announced
yet. The opposition has submitted applications to the Yerevan
municipality for holding events on October 31, November 7 and
November 14.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/58128/armenia_opposition_ruling_party_rally_tsarukyan
From: A. Papazian