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IN ARMENIA, MP CAN MEAN "MILLIONAIRE IN PARLIAMENT"
EurasiaNet.org
Oct 24 2014
October 24, 2014 - 11:14am, by Giorgi Lomsadze
Armenia's parliament is something of a millionaire-hangout, according
to local media reports. Nineteen members of the 131-seat assembly
have incomes of over $1 million, the reports say, citing the most
recent official income declarations.
Tamada Tales could not immediately double-check the reports since
the English-language version of the income-disclosure website is not
fully functional. But if the reports are true, then one influential
opposition party, Prosperous Armenia, certainly lives up to its name.
The populist party and its boss, tycoon Gagik Tsarukian , rank as the
richest party and lawmaker, respectively. For good measure, Prosperous
Armenia allegedly boasts another eight millionaires as well, with the
grand total of the MPs' net worth coming to $163.6 million, reported
the newspaper 168 Zham (168 Hours), which came up with the original
report on the millionaire-lawmakers.
Another nine millionaires in the legislature belong to the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia, while one independent MP, Araik Grigorian,
who doubles as president of the board of a wine-factory, ranks as
the legislature's millionaire-maverick.
In grand total, Armenian lawmakers are worth $235 million, 168 Zham
said. By comparison, average monthly salaries in Armenia rank the
dram-equivalent of just $424.
Local critics long have argued that the country's legislature largely
functions as a good ol' boys' club, with business and political
interests mingling seamlessly, and members essentially seeking seats
only to further their business interests.
Judging by these income disclosures, looks like some have been
particularly successful in such a quest.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/70591
EurasiaNet.org
Oct 24 2014
October 24, 2014 - 11:14am, by Giorgi Lomsadze
Armenia's parliament is something of a millionaire-hangout, according
to local media reports. Nineteen members of the 131-seat assembly
have incomes of over $1 million, the reports say, citing the most
recent official income declarations.
Tamada Tales could not immediately double-check the reports since
the English-language version of the income-disclosure website is not
fully functional. But if the reports are true, then one influential
opposition party, Prosperous Armenia, certainly lives up to its name.
The populist party and its boss, tycoon Gagik Tsarukian , rank as the
richest party and lawmaker, respectively. For good measure, Prosperous
Armenia allegedly boasts another eight millionaires as well, with the
grand total of the MPs' net worth coming to $163.6 million, reported
the newspaper 168 Zham (168 Hours), which came up with the original
report on the millionaire-lawmakers.
Another nine millionaires in the legislature belong to the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia, while one independent MP, Araik Grigorian,
who doubles as president of the board of a wine-factory, ranks as
the legislature's millionaire-maverick.
In grand total, Armenian lawmakers are worth $235 million, 168 Zham
said. By comparison, average monthly salaries in Armenia rank the
dram-equivalent of just $424.
Local critics long have argued that the country's legislature largely
functions as a good ol' boys' club, with business and political
interests mingling seamlessly, and members essentially seeking seats
only to further their business interests.
Judging by these income disclosures, looks like some have been
particularly successful in such a quest.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/70591