Galust Sahakyan’s response to the statement made by the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) parliamentary group secretary yesterday
“Before talking about persons, we attach more importance to the agenda, on which there will be possible consultations and decisions with concerned political and social circles,” the statement made by Naira Zohrabyan, the secretary of the PAP parliamentary group, yesterday evening reads. “Analyzing the 20-year history of our independence, today’s bureaucracy and prospects of development, we think that the switch to a parliamentary system of government can be one of the ways to solve problems facing the country, eliminate the political monopoly, as well as carry out necessary reforms. This will lead to a considerable increase in political parties’ role and responsibility and will create real conditions to solve a set of vicious problems once and for all,” the PAP offers as a “negotiation agenda.” And on this path, they attach importance to switching to 100-percent proportional representation, “The switch to the parliamentary system implies that the President to be elected in 2013 will have a four-year term at most and will have implemented respective constitutional amendments before the next parliamentary election (2017) and will lay the foundation for the new system.” The PAP thinks that this approach may become an ideological basis for a union and cooperation of political forces and they are going to start consultations with political forces in the short-run.
Why has the PAP decided to put forward these ideas such a short while before the election, when both the opposition camp and the political stage wait for the very steps of the PAP? Let us remind that they have been offered at different times by different political forces, including before the parliamentary election that took place in May, with the hope that they may unite political forces and haven’t been a subject of much discussion. In response to these observations of Aravot, Armen Martirosyan, a member of the Heritage Party executive committee, said that the timing was not bad, “We have a presidential election ahead of us and those may become program provisions, therefore, I don’t see any problem in that regard. Yes, the Heritage Party is one of the parties that have been raising the issue of 100-percent proportional representation for a long time; in the previous convocation of the parliament, I myself put forward a proposal twice. We are also for switching to the parliamentary system and have raised that issue many times.” As for consultations, the Heritage Party doesn’t see problems in them, regardless of whether it is a government force, an opposition force or in this case, an alternative one, “Consultations are always useful. As for what kind of consultations they will be, what issues will be discussed, the statement is made by the PAP, they will initiate consultations and they will set the agenda.” In response to a question of Aravot whether he didn’t see a far-reaching aim, Armen Martirosyan said, “In any case, every political force has its own tactic and strategy. I think it is normal. All this fits in with their certain tactical and strategic perceptions.” The other issues will be discussed in the party executive committee and the party’s position will be expressed. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) hasn’t managed to get acquainted with the statement yet, therefore, the ARF figures avoided making hasty comments. They will express their opinion today.
Levon Zurabyan, the secretary of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary group, said that he had nothing to say about that yet.
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And Heghine Bisharyan, the leader of the Rule of Law Party (RLP) parliamentary group, noted during a conversation with Aravot that the RLP had always been for 100-percent proportional representation, therefore, she didn’t see any problem with regard to that point. The RLP will express its opinion on the overall proposals of the PAP after discussing them in the governing body of the party. We inquired of Ms. Bisharyan whether the proposals of the PAP were the agenda, on which consultations could begin to consolidate the political stage. “They are proposals. I think one can discuss and express an opinion on every political team’s proposals. It is an acceptable option on the political stage, when political forces hold consultations. Political forces will discuss and naturally, respond in accordance with their principles.”
Galust Sahakyan, the secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group, was also unaware of the statement, but in response to our question, he asked a question, “Is Gagik Tsarukyan’s signature on that statement?” When we clarified that the statement had been made on behalf of the parliamentary group secretary, Sahakyan said, “No, well, it is a personal issue. Certainly, such issues are always discussable for us. It is a model common around the world; it depends on which one our state needs. I think we will read the statement, discuss it a bit and give assessments. I think that such statements are made by the leader of a party or it is a statement signed by him. But the model is there, it is discussable, I think those political reasons are not valid at the moment.”
Nelly GRIGORYAN
