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No consensus between authorities and public until fair elections

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  • No consensus between authorities and public until fair elections

    No consensus between authorities and public until fair elections held
    in Armenia - expert

    12:00 / 08.11.2014


    Nyut.am conducted interview with the expert of political and electoral
    technology Armen Badalyan.

    - Mr Badalyan, what are the new qualities in the current movement of
    the trio? Is there anything with which this movement differs from the
    previous ones?

    - Naturally, there are some differences. In particular, one of the
    forces comprising the trio has television, has other mass media means
    while previously the rest forces were deprived of it. It expands their
    audience. The difference is great in financial respect as well.
    Previously, the organizers of the movement faced certain financial
    issues while today it is not so as one of the forces of the trio has
    big financial resource. The third difference is connected with the
    number of MPs. The previous ones either did not have them or just
    one-two. For instance, during the 2008 presidential elections just two
    MPs were engaged who later were arrested in connection with March 1
    developments. The one was arrested, the other went into hiding for
    quite a long time.

    - And what about content? Is there a difference of content?

    - As to the content, more right to say in political respect the
    difference is that previously when movements were being formed Armenia
    was not in such dependence from geo-political centers and Russia in
    particular, while now it is. And whether it wants or not, the
    circumstance of this dependence must be taken into consideration. If
    to be clearer, you must come to terms with Armenia's membership to the
    Eurasian Economic Union.
    If to view wider, we'll see that just like during the previous
    movements, during this time as well, the main content of the
    opposition's activity is to present its programs, criticize the
    authorities and try to come to power and implement own programs.
    That is to say the main function of the opposition the main essence of
    the movement is the same with just organizational differences.

    - It may be concluded that the success of this movement is mostly
    agreed with outside, in our case with Russia.

    - Yes, it is so.

    - Mr Badalyan, many are speaking about public consensus. Does it really exist?

    - There is public consensus but not over the movement but over leaving
    the homeland. If to view the immigration rate, we see a new phenomenon
    which did not exist previously. In particular, in 2008, when the big
    flow of immigration just started a tendency was being noted in public
    moods: the people were a bit freezing their decision to immigrate to
    show what the public fight will give. Currently, the consensus has
    been formed in public and people are not waiting for hot autumns and
    springs. As soon as they get an opportunity they leave immediately. I
    mean that the public consensus is in immigrating and not in the
    movement.

    - Is there consensus between authorities and opposition, or more right
    to say in authorities-public core?

    - It will happen only in case of normal elections take place in
    Armenia because the consensus between the public and the authorities
    are free, fair and transparent elections. As far as the election
    institute is not working in Armenia there cannot be consensus between
    the people and the authorities.

    - Do the authorities have enough resources to be able to confront the
    movement if critical mass of people gathers in the square?

    - It depends on vassalization process of Armenia. The issue is not
    whether the authorities can confront if hundred thousand of people
    gather in the streets. It can confront and even carry out what it did
    on March 1, 2008. Theoretically everything is possible. The issue is
    whether the authorities will be allowed to confront or not. The
    permission is being given by Moscow.

    - Many think that oligarch cannot fight against oligarchic system of
    the authorities? Do you think so too?

    - No, I do not. The world experience shows quite the opposite. The
    best example is Ukraine's. Oligarch Poroshenko went against the system
    he used to make part of. During Yanukovich's presidency he was economy
    minister, he was foreign affairs minister and secretary of the defense
    and security council. By the way the latter post is quite influential
    in that country. Despite the circumstance that he was one of the
    creators of the system people were complaining of, he went against the
    authorities he fought and now he is the president of the country.

    - Why do many political and public forces accept this movement rather painfully?

    - About 75 parties are registered in Armenia's Justice Ministry but
    only few are actually operating - Republican party, Prosperous Armenia
    party, Armenian National Congress, ARF-D a bit and Heritage with some
    restrictions. There are no other influential political forces,
    parties.
    The same related to the public organizations or the so-called active
    political unions. They are not influential. They are rather small with
    their resources and their influence.

    http://nyut.am/archives/278250?lang=en

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