One of my friends asked me to express my positive, not sarcastic, opinion on the upcoming presidential election, to say what politicians and citizens should do in the current situation. To begin with, I have never told anyone, including my children, “what to do.” As opposed to multifold Bolsheviks and inquisitors, I don’t think I have the right to say “Do as I want, otherwise I will say bad things about you.” I can only say what I would do, what my assessment of the situation is, by no means claiming that I am a “role model,” and everyone should follow my example.
First of all, I, as a citizen, have always participated in presidential elections. I voted for Paruyr Hayrikyan in 1991, for Levon Ter-Petrossian in 1996, in both rounds of the 1998 election, I voted against everyone, I voted for Stepan Demirchyan in both rounds of the 2003 election, and in 2008, I voted for Levon Ter-Petrossian. I haven’t concealed my preferences either before or after elections; it is another matter that as a journalist and an editor, I try to give balanced information. Now I waver between Raffi Hovhannisyan and Hrant Bagratyan; I still have to familiarize myself with their programs. I think no one will deny that opposition, as well as “non-opposition,” candidates have ample opportunity to preach their ideas and viewpoints. For comparison, let us recall that Ter-Petrossian’s speeches in 2008 were spread on DVDs, and TV companies were mainly engaged in criticizing the first president.
Certainly, it is unfortunate that the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) haven’t nominated their candidates, but it is not the end of the world, it is not the biggest tragedy of the Armenian people, and it doesn’t mean that in Armenia, political and social life should stop. I want to see something positive in every unfortunate event, particularly given the fact that there are people in the Congress who have started to appear as independent politicians, not as functionaries from Ter-Petrossian’s entourage who are engaged in technical work. I am certainly talking about first of all Hrant Bagratyan and Nikol Pashinyan who, by the way, have proved to be conscientious MPs in recent months. It doesn’t matter whether I have a personal liking for them or not, it is not essential either whether I agree with them or not. It is important that instead of guessing the first president’s unexpressed thoughts, they try to formulate their own ideas. I am convinced that Vartan Oskanian and other members of the PAP will become active in the short run. The “secret” process that has lasted for one year becomes clear. It certainly is a positive thing.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
