As it is known, politics is the art of possibilities. It is not possible to destroy the rule of bandits or to establish the constitutional order. It is not possible, because the existence of the rule of bandits and the lack of the constitutional order are caused not by the negative traits of the current authorities or the current overall establishment, not even by the existing political and economic systems. Those are the results of our society’s drawbacks, the fundament of which was laid not during the past 20 years, not even in the 20th century. We talked about that lots of times and there will be other opportunities to talk about it. However, now let us point out what was possible to reform in the political system during this very year.
This year, before the parliamentary election commences, at least two things were possible to be reached; 1. To amend the Election Code, in order that the election is 100 percent proportional representation voting, in this way getting rid of the most odious “local princes”, 2. To adopt the fingerprint security system, in this way avoiding double-voting as much as possible. You might say these are little things, fair elections cannot be reached through that. It is absolutely right. However, let us agree – if one takes on maximalist and unrealizable tasks and calls the rest little things and cosmetics, then after not realizing these tasks, the society’s disappointment will be very deep, people start to think that nothing can be changed. And the other way around – if the citizens are shown even a small example of progress, they feel that there’s still hope.
The Armenian National Congress (ANC) started the dialogue with “hand over the power to us” agenda. Although it wasn’t defined that way, nevertheless the content was exactly that. Any other subject was perceived as incompatible with the ambitions of the opposition. The establishment offered another agenda – free and fair elections. It is clear that they were not and are not going to hold such elections. However during the dialogue, having at least 10 thousand people in the street, it was possible to win some concessions, in particular, the two I mentioned. There would have been a tangible result that would have encouraged the society to make future demands. Add to that the fact that realistic demands could have united other opposition forces, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the Heritage Party. That cooperation is not realized first and foremost because of the ANC leadership’s arrogance.
Certainly, it would be ideal, if there was no fence limiting the freedom in our life. However, if that fence cannot be destroyed, it can be drawn a few meters forward. Demanding everything, one usually gets nothing.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
