The 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, a report published by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, states that the close relationships within political and business circles raise concerns. According to the report, although Armenia performs relatively well in many categories of economic freedom, the close relationships within political and business circles raise concerns about cronyism and undue influence by vested interests. www.aravot.am inquired during a conversation with Zoya Tadevosyan, a member of the ANC, whether they could notice that the government took adequate steps to improve the current situation. Ms. Tadevosyan replied: “I can’t see it yet. I agree with that description, since if politics and business are separated, this government will not be reproduced. The main instrument of reproduction is corruption and money, and all governments willingly involve businessmen, promising them political protection and use their financial means to reproduce itself. It is so simple and acceptable for our country that that description becomes absolutely objective.”
In response to our question whether the only solution to the problem was a change of power or there was another solution, our interlocutor said the following: “The issue of a power change is basically related to the change of the current government. In democratic countries, they don’t talk about a change of power as a rule, but rather about forming a government through free and fair elections. In our country, that problem is caused by the fact that government is formed through a change of power. That is why the term ‘change of power’ has been put into use; it is an artificial term, which will not exist, if there are normal elections.”
In response to our observation that since the opposition, particularly the ANC, didn’t participate in the presidential election, the current situation would be dominant for five more years, Ms. Tadevosyan said the following: “Whether we like it or not, we have to wait. We will not wait passively; we will wait for the next election, since I think that the political society, all political forces that are concerned about this country’s condition will not sit on their hands. After five years when new political forces, new mentality are formed, there is a rise in the voters’ political consciousness, the Armenian voters are ready to execute their constitutional rights, only then will we have the government we want. Therefore, today’s passiveness should not be extended to the political situation after February 18. This passiveness shows that there is no alternative candidate on the political stage around whom one can unite, which is an abnormal thing. If there is no joint candidate, no one else has any
chance to be elected. Therefore, we will not endorse such candidates. Our goal is not second place; our goal is victory.”
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Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
