As far as I can remember, before every election, oppositionists state that one should unity, that negotiations are under way right now etc. They are right in the sense that only by uniting and joining forces can one effectively oppose the state machine, which, as we know, is completely in the government’s hands. Those kind wishes usually remain just talk; ambitions and the internal struggle in the opposition camp eventually become more powerful factors, than the desire to win. As far as the parliament or, even more so, the presidency is concerned, the fact that, say, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the Armenian National Congress (ANC) have different opinions on the Armenia-Turkey relations, or that the Heritage Party wants to recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and the others don’t is very important. Now, the issue is efficient government of the capital, in which case, it doesn’t matter whether you are a social liberal or a nationalist. By the way, when Vahagn Khachatryan who was not a member of the Pan-Armenian National Movement (PANM) was elected chairman of the Yerevan City Council in 1992, it was only beneficial for the capital.
However, the current favorable situation doesn’t seem to be used. Firstly the ANC proposal to participate with a common list was basically rejected; then the negotiations between the ARF, the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and the Heritage Party didn’t yield results. Although the parties participating in the city council election promise not to bad-mouth each other, but they actually do bad-mouth each other and make the government, against which they ostensibly struggle, happy. In this regard, it is probably worth reminding the estimable party members that there are less than 3 weeks left until the Yerevan City Council election, and, at least, the mechanism of supervising the election should be created now, not on the election day.
It seems that the idea that one cannot “win” the election with post-election processes – rallies, protests – that it is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted gradually becomes dominant on the political stage these days. One should win a victory with records of polling places. And only coordinated work of the 4 parties can make it possible.
Ter-Petrossian’s latest “messages” to Tsarukyan should be considered in that (and not moral and didactic) light. If they are not “heard,” as it had happened before the presidential election, then there was no point in them. If they are “heard,” those reverent gestures are absolutely justified.
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ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
