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OPPOSITION IN DISARRAY: ANALYSTS SAY GOVERNMENT ONLY POSTPONES THE "BATTLE"
POLITICS | 10.03.15 | 10:21
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
RELATED NEWS
Analysis: No major opposition to Sargsyan power seen in post-Tsarukyan reality
Analysts in Armenia acknowledge that the country's opposition is in
shambles after the latest offensive from the ruling party, but many
also say the situation cannot last long considering the worsening
socio-economic conditions.
Liberty Square in Yerevan, which is a traditional venue for political
assembly in Armenia and a symbol of freedom for the public, is now
empty, said political analyst Stepan Safaryan. But it will soon be
filled again as problems in the country persist, he added.
"By keeping the square free from protesters the government does not
solve its main problem, but only postpones the battle," said Safaryan
at a press conference on Monday, adding that the growing protest among
the people will create more opportunities for opposition political
forces to resort to street protests and demonstrations.
Safaryan, who is founding director of the Armenian Institute for
International and Security Affairs, said that what the government
really managed to achieve by ousting opposition-leaning tycoon Gagik
Tsarukyan from politics is to send a message to other businessmen
that they should not stand next to the opposition.
"Now I doubt that any businessman will dare even say hello to the
radical opposition," he said.
Political analyst Anush Sedrakyan, meanwhile, said that what happened
to Tsarukyan and his Prosperous Armenia Party, which effectively
collapsed under government pressure, shows that being opposition and
possessing vast resources are incompatible in Armenia. "You cannot
have financial monopolies and assets and use public discontent to
bring people to Liberty Square," she said.
Governance expert Harutyun Mesrobyan, meanwhile, suggested that Armenia
had been turned into a "private club", which is also the reason why
there is no strong opposition in the country. "Anything that is new
is oppressed. That's why politics is rotating around almost the same
people," he said.
Many in the opposition camp today consider that it is vital to create
a new "pole" after the effective collapse of the opposition alliance
that consisted of the Prosperous Armenia Party, the Armenian National
Congress and Heritage.
Heritage's MP Tevan Poghosyan said: "We need to form a strong,
powerful, alternative pole. We cannot say that the opposition has
given up its struggle... Simply before February 20 people perceived
the opposition differently than they do today. But there are still
people who work in the National Assembly and present their views,
there are also extra-parliamentary forces."
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/61272/armenia_politics_opposition_analysts
POLITICS | 10.03.15 | 10:21
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
RELATED NEWS
Analysis: No major opposition to Sargsyan power seen in post-Tsarukyan reality
Analysts in Armenia acknowledge that the country's opposition is in
shambles after the latest offensive from the ruling party, but many
also say the situation cannot last long considering the worsening
socio-economic conditions.
Liberty Square in Yerevan, which is a traditional venue for political
assembly in Armenia and a symbol of freedom for the public, is now
empty, said political analyst Stepan Safaryan. But it will soon be
filled again as problems in the country persist, he added.
"By keeping the square free from protesters the government does not
solve its main problem, but only postpones the battle," said Safaryan
at a press conference on Monday, adding that the growing protest among
the people will create more opportunities for opposition political
forces to resort to street protests and demonstrations.
Safaryan, who is founding director of the Armenian Institute for
International and Security Affairs, said that what the government
really managed to achieve by ousting opposition-leaning tycoon Gagik
Tsarukyan from politics is to send a message to other businessmen
that they should not stand next to the opposition.
"Now I doubt that any businessman will dare even say hello to the
radical opposition," he said.
Political analyst Anush Sedrakyan, meanwhile, said that what happened
to Tsarukyan and his Prosperous Armenia Party, which effectively
collapsed under government pressure, shows that being opposition and
possessing vast resources are incompatible in Armenia. "You cannot
have financial monopolies and assets and use public discontent to
bring people to Liberty Square," she said.
Governance expert Harutyun Mesrobyan, meanwhile, suggested that Armenia
had been turned into a "private club", which is also the reason why
there is no strong opposition in the country. "Anything that is new
is oppressed. That's why politics is rotating around almost the same
people," he said.
Many in the opposition camp today consider that it is vital to create
a new "pole" after the effective collapse of the opposition alliance
that consisted of the Prosperous Armenia Party, the Armenian National
Congress and Heritage.
Heritage's MP Tevan Poghosyan said: "We need to form a strong,
powerful, alternative pole. We cannot say that the opposition has
given up its struggle... Simply before February 20 people perceived
the opposition differently than they do today. But there are still
people who work in the National Assembly and present their views,
there are also extra-parliamentary forces."
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/61272/armenia_politics_opposition_analysts