Yesterday the NA looked like the Soviet period: nominations without alternatives without any questions, candidates who thank to their party and kiss each other.
It seemed that you were in the Supreme Council of the Soviet Armenia if the clerics weren\’t present. The Catholicos of the whole Armenians came to bless the new-elected lawmakers and when he prayed nobody repeated with him.
The President of Armenia said very interesting things in his speech that the «legitimacy of this parliament is perfect» that Armenia is the most developing country among those countries which don\’t import oil.
According to the NA order, the RA President and the Catholicos of the Whole Armenians have a right to make the first greeting speech. Rafik Petrosyan, the eldest parliamentarian of the new elected parliament conduced the sitting and spoke about «severe struggle against criminal and corruption» and asked the parliamentarians to picipated in the sittings as it is bad when the laws are adopted in half-empty hall.
As a rule the most amusing parlaimentary seatings are held by the leder representatives.We thought that this one would be an exception as the former chairman of the NA commission of state legal issues was conducting it. But Rafik Petrosyan wasn\’t only confusing his colleagues\’ names b ut made some historical mistakes. The lawmakers should vow according to the text attached in the «NA order» law. But Rafik Petrosyan ordered the parliamentarians to stand up, he read the text of vow himself, then ordered them to sit down. Robert Kocharyan interfered: «What about vow? », and he himself ordered: «Let\’s together say «I vow».
NA deputy chairman Vahan Hovhanisyan\’s speech was also amusing. Not for the reason that one of the ARF leaders made a speech against hostility and extremism: «A new political culture is being formed in Armenia : people didn\’t say «yes» to the political forces that propagandize hostility, – Vahan Hovhanisyan told and added that it was obvious the extremism has no future in Armenia . The following words were more ambiguous: «In case of being elected I\’ll do the same I did during the last 4 days. If you think I was doing well, you will elect me. And if it was so, I\’ll do it better». After these promises only two voted «against» his candiadcy and 110 members were «for» it. As for Ishkhan Zakharyan, 9 parliamentarians voted against his candiadcy and 102 members were for.
The chairmen\’s of standing commissions were also elected. Armen Rustamyan, the head of commission of foreign relations made the longest speech, representing those problems he is going to solve. But nobody gave him any question, he was elected by 106 «for» and 2 «against» votes. Hranush Hakobyan, who was elected by 105 «for» and 2 «against» votes as the head of commission on the issues of Science, education, culture, youth and sport, was the only person who felt regret for the absence of opposition. Hranush Hakobyan expected from the polling «gentlemanlike behaivor and women solidarity».
Avet Adonts, the head of commission on European integration issues /one of three new formed commissions, 103 «for, 5 «against»/ expected in his pre-electoral speech «women gentlemanlike behaivor and men solidarity».
The most problematic was the nomination of the headof the commssion on Economic Issues. Thugh Karen Chshmarityan was included in it but it becmae clear that the former minister of environment is better. So Vardan Ayvazyan Got 102 «for and 6 «against» votes. David Harutiunyan got the same votes . Five lawmakers were against Arevik Petrosyan\’s candidacy in the position of the head of the commission of Human Rights and Public issues. Four lawmakers were against Arthur Aghabekyan\’s nomination in the position of the commission of Defense, National Security, Internal Affairs. For Ara Babloyan\’s candidacy in the post of the head of commission on Social, health protection and environment issues 5 parliamentarians voted «against». And only one person was against Gagik Minasyan\’s candidacy in the post of the head of commission on financing, loan and budget issues.
NA finished its work yesterday. The new government will be formed within 20 days, after the government must represent its project to the NA within 20 days.