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NO COMMON AGENDA?: POLITICAL 'TROIKA' PREPARING FOR JOINT RALLY UNDER DIFFERENT SLOGANS
ANALYSIS | 01.10.14 | 10:33
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/57252/armenia_political_troika_rallies_provinces
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The troika of parliamentary minority parties is holding gatherings in
Armenia's regions ahead of the big joint rally planned to be held in
capital Yerevan on October 10. The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP),
Heritage and the Armenian National Congress (ANC) have effectively
failed to form a common agenda, and each of them at the rallies is
making its own calls.
The press loyal to the troika publishes appeals to prepare for a
revolution. Such media suggest that President Serzh Sargsyan has
started the constitutional reforms in order to secure his continued
role in the government after leaving the post in 2018. The reforms
implies a transition from the current semi-presidential to a
parliamentary system of government, and for Sargsyan, who will not
be eligible to run for president again, this, indeed, would be an
opportunity for "reincarnation" as an influential prime minister or
parliament speaker.
The troika in principle does not stand against a parliamentary system,
it mostly says that now is not the right time for that. This allows
experts to assume that the troika is going to foil the constitutional
reforms in order to take another candidate to power. The most likely
name of such a candidate is second President Robert Kocharyan.
Nothing is being said openly about Kocharyan's plans to return to
active politics. But experts believe that his positions are not
that strong as one could think. In particular, it is connected with
the case against AFK Sistema in Russia. Kocharyan is a shareholder
and sits on the Board of Directors of this company. At present, AFK
Sistema head Yevgeny Yevtushenkov is under house arrest, there is a
possibility of the nationalization of some of the company's assets,
in particular, of the Bashneft oil company. According to some views,
it cannot but affect the political capital of Kocharyan. And the main
question is whether Kocharyan continues to enjoy the support of the
Russian leadership.
Despite the public demand for revolutionary movements and opposition
slogans, the rallies of the non-governing troika appear to be little
trusted by the protest electorate. First of all, it is connected with
the absence of a common agenda. But most importantly - many ask why
the troika decided to hold its main rally on October 10.
A major event for Armenia - formal accession to the Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) - is expected to take place this day at the summit of
the emerging organization in Minsk, Belarus. The attitudes of the
troika members are different towards Armenia's membership in the
Russian-led bloc. Heritage considers joining the EEU to be a loss of
sovereignty for Armenia, the ANC views it as an irreversible process,
and the PAP has never opposed Eurasian integration.
Many in Armenia regard the circumstance that the rally is scheduled
for October 10 as a means of pressure on President Sargsyan in order
for him not to refuse to sign the agreement at the last moment. In
this regard, some Armenian experts argue that the activities of the
troika are supported by Moscow to keep Sargsyan in the Eurasian orbit.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ANALYSIS | 01.10.14 | 10:33
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/57252/armenia_political_troika_rallies_provinces
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The troika of parliamentary minority parties is holding gatherings in
Armenia's regions ahead of the big joint rally planned to be held in
capital Yerevan on October 10. The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP),
Heritage and the Armenian National Congress (ANC) have effectively
failed to form a common agenda, and each of them at the rallies is
making its own calls.
The press loyal to the troika publishes appeals to prepare for a
revolution. Such media suggest that President Serzh Sargsyan has
started the constitutional reforms in order to secure his continued
role in the government after leaving the post in 2018. The reforms
implies a transition from the current semi-presidential to a
parliamentary system of government, and for Sargsyan, who will not
be eligible to run for president again, this, indeed, would be an
opportunity for "reincarnation" as an influential prime minister or
parliament speaker.
The troika in principle does not stand against a parliamentary system,
it mostly says that now is not the right time for that. This allows
experts to assume that the troika is going to foil the constitutional
reforms in order to take another candidate to power. The most likely
name of such a candidate is second President Robert Kocharyan.
Nothing is being said openly about Kocharyan's plans to return to
active politics. But experts believe that his positions are not
that strong as one could think. In particular, it is connected with
the case against AFK Sistema in Russia. Kocharyan is a shareholder
and sits on the Board of Directors of this company. At present, AFK
Sistema head Yevgeny Yevtushenkov is under house arrest, there is a
possibility of the nationalization of some of the company's assets,
in particular, of the Bashneft oil company. According to some views,
it cannot but affect the political capital of Kocharyan. And the main
question is whether Kocharyan continues to enjoy the support of the
Russian leadership.
Despite the public demand for revolutionary movements and opposition
slogans, the rallies of the non-governing troika appear to be little
trusted by the protest electorate. First of all, it is connected with
the absence of a common agenda. But most importantly - many ask why
the troika decided to hold its main rally on October 10.
A major event for Armenia - formal accession to the Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) - is expected to take place this day at the summit of
the emerging organization in Minsk, Belarus. The attitudes of the
troika members are different towards Armenia's membership in the
Russian-led bloc. Heritage considers joining the EEU to be a loss of
sovereignty for Armenia, the ANC views it as an irreversible process,
and the PAP has never opposed Eurasian integration.
Many in Armenia regard the circumstance that the rally is scheduled
for October 10 as a means of pressure on President Sargsyan in order
for him not to refuse to sign the agreement at the last moment. In
this regard, some Armenian experts argue that the activities of the
troika are supported by Moscow to keep Sargsyan in the Eurasian orbit.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress