Won’t you be surprised, if an oppositionist stands up during a discussion on the Cabinet’s program in some country’s parliament and says: “Oh, what a wonderful program this is; I am all for that program, because it leads our country to prosperity with firm steps.” Perhaps the appointed “opposition” in some totalitarian country will make such speeches, but in the country, where there is a certain political process it is just not possible. There hasn’t been such a thing in Armenia for 22 years and, I hope, it will never be.
One of the differences between the discussion on the Cabinet’s program in our country and civilized countries is that in those countries, the political units that have been elected as a result of fair elections represent this or that part of society and, consequently, make speeches and vote, given this or that system of values. For example, liberals want to reduce taxes, socialists to increase them (in France, it is on such a scale that “emigration” of businessmen has started), nationalists call for strict emigration laws, and Greens call for banning polyethylene bags.
There is no such thing in our country; since around 1992, our oppositionists have not gone into such issues; they have said only one thing to the government: “You are thieves, robbers and stealers and you have to leave as soon as possible, otherwise, the country will be destroyed.” Certainly, the masses, which are constantly in a hard social condition, like that, but it doesn’t contribute to the discussion of the program itself. One of the reasons for this situation is that since 1995, the parliament has not been formed through fair elections and doesn’t represent the interests of different parts of society. I have said “one of the reasons,” because the Supreme Council that was formed in 1990 was absolutely legitimate, but the opposition stemming from the Communists and the members of the Pan-Armenian National Movement (PANM) would again raise only the issue of “robbery.”
The second feature of Armenia that is partly caused by the first one is that the Cabinet is actually not accountable to the parliament. Otherwise, the main subject of discussions that are under way now would be the following; 5 years ago, the same Cabinet that was formed by the same parliamentary majority also proposed a program, in which specific numbers regarding GDP, investment, boosting the birth rate, reduction of poverty, and other important directions were mentioned. However, NONE of the targets declared in 2008 have
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been met; sometimes what is written on paper and reality differ dramatically. Why? Is it only because of the global economic crisis? That issue should be discussed not only by “bashing” the Cabinet, but also by understanding what impedes us and what one should do, in order to meet the targets that have been promised today.
In the analyses of the Cabinet members, there weren’t answers to these questions. And the oppositionists are engaged in more “global” criticism.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
