The proposals made by Raffi Hovhannisyan remind Hermine Naghdalyan of “swimming after the missed boat.”
Hermine Naghdalyan, a deputy speaker of the National Assembly, thinks that it is already a signature in the Republic of Armenia that problems that are not solved on the election day and at the hands of the voter are brought to the agenda again after elections, using other means of organization, and they try to find solutions to them. “The important political problems of the country are solved on the election day,” our interlocutor says, calling on the partner political forces to be “in shape” on that very day. Talking about the internal political issues and the developments taking place in post-election Armenia for two months now in this context, Ms. Naghdalyan doesn’t think that there was any need for “wishful thinking, one just has to face the reality.” Our interlocutor thinks that this is the main truth that was realized in Freedom Square last Friday, and it is important not only from the perspective of undoing one political knot, but also for future political development. In response to Aravot’s question whether the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) was excited about the fact that Raffi Hovhannisyan, the Heritage Party leader, generously allowed Serzh Sargsyan to keep the presidency, Hermine Naghdalyan, a deputy speaker of the National Assembly, said: “Let me say that they are not excited about the fact that he allowed, but rather one ought to be excited about the fact that even the hardest truths are eventually understood even by the most ill-wishing people who don’t want to take note of the reality, to face the facts in any way.” The RPA deputy speaker is convinced that the Friday rally and the statements made there showed that “there is a president, an elected president in the Republic of Armenia, and he makes decisions. And this is an important reality. This is important not only for undoing this political knot, but also in terms of global politics.” By the way, Hermine Naghdalyan thinks that Raffi Hovhannisyan’s proposals to give supervising offices to the opposition, dismiss some governors, and appoint the people he proposed are late. “Certainly, it is in the powers of the president, and he is to decide. The issues will be discussed, and they will be solved. I am happy that the Heritage Party leader has taken note of his powers. However, I think that it is visible to everyone already that the processes are late, and those proposals
remind of swimming after the missed boat. However, the boat is already missed.” The RPA deputy speaker also thinks there are problems with the nature of Hovhannisyan’s proposal. “One thing is clear; it is about offices after all. So there were just offices behind those elevated things.” In response to our observation whether she agreed with the accusations against the Heritage Party leader of cutting a deal with the government, our interlocutor said: “I don’t want to use neither the word ‘accusation,’ nor the word ‘deal.’ Whatever you do, you have to discuss, negotiate with the government and find a solution.” As for the content of the proposals, she notes: “The RPA and the president of the republic took on their power to carry out the programs they had proposed. The first and most important issue is the following; how are our problems related to you, will you come to carry out our programs? If it is so, I think the president of the republic will be happy about any additional person’s participation.” We inquired what the RPA deputy speaker thought of the attacks of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) against Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, in particular, in the run-up to the new Cabinet and the city council election. “I think that this is a period of political tension, intensification of political activities, therefore, everyone tries to find the format, in which he will be able to be proactive, will be able to gain as much favor as possible. And the best way of doing has always been to present and use the troubles of the other party. I think that the PAP’s attitude accords with that formula,” our interlocutor said, adding that the problems raised by the PAP now had been raised by the RPA earlier, more vehemently and in more detail, offering also solutions. “Yes, there are obstacles in the way of carrying out the proposed programs; it requires time. Today’s economic growth that is visible through economic evaluation hasn’t impacted every citizen in the republic yet, but there is an explanation of that too; continuous and consistent work is being done in that direction. Finding one or two flaws today and turning it into a flag, a method to increase one’s own rating is not that appropriate for a political force. A serious political force is supposed to do more important work to ensure one’s own rating through one’s own work and achievements and not by the means of someone else’s troubles.” In response to a question whether she shared the conviction of her fellow party members that the RPA would be the favorite during the Yerevan City Council election too, and the opposition forces would struggle for second position again, Ms. Naghdalyan said: “Having such an opinion has become somewhat shameful recently, hasn’t it? I think that the RPA, the mayor of Yerevan, Taron Margaryan, and the Yerevan City Council have carried out a lot of programs in recent years, have solved a lot of problems, which have changed the face of our city, have changed the conditions of many people’s life for the better; there have been essential changes, which can be seen and cannot be doubted by anyone. The conclusion that can be drawn from all this is that the RPA team will come first.” As for second position, Hermine Naghdalyan says: “I think that the opposition’s goal today will be to politicize the city council election using every means possible, including artificial ones, in order that they can regain what they lost or didn’t gain during the presidential and parliamentary elections. Actually, the Yerevan City Council election will rather be a struggle for becoming the leader in the opposition camp.”
NELLY GRIGORYAN
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What is Hovanessian saying in effect? That you either do what I want or I’ll kill myself? It is the diasporean reverse thinking of: You either do what I say or I’ll kill YOU.