“No-government” quartet decided to hold rallies for three days in a row starting from April 28 to demand the government’s resignation. It is the very time when the issue of non-confidence in the government will be discussed in the National Assembly, with entirely predictable voting. It is clear that one of “non-government” parties has all the material resources that are necessary to bring the people and keep at the Freedom Square for three days.
From the viewpoint of us, the journalists, it is certainly a very welcomed initiative, there is a material to cover. We will ask the Republicans what they are thinking about the initiative, and they, with their specific rhetorical style, will say a couple of sarcastic remarks about it. Then we will ask “non-government members” what they are thinking about Republicans’ sarcasm, and they will answer that the hysteria that some political forces have raised with regard to expected rally, unequivocally proves that the regime is in fright from the public consolidation.
In reality, such events should be treated more common as a political daily routine. Let people say what they want, but there is a freedom of assembly in Armenia, and the people have the full right to demand anything, including the government’s resignation. Such a thing happens quite often in Western and even in Eastern Europe. (it is not possible in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia). Sometimes these meetings are crowned with success, and sometimes – not.
The important thing is that the government should always listen to the sharpest criticism to its address, both inside the Parliament and outside in the street. Regardless of whether there is an element of populism in this criticism, or not, no matter what interests the critics pursue, the rallies to some extent create a competitive environment and make to look for political arguments, not being limited to sarcastic formulations.
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The current government has really a deficit of trust. Whatever it does, the people cast doubt on it for having thoughts in the background. The entire problem is that the citizens treat the previous governments exactly in the same way and will have exactly the same sentiment towards the next government, no matter whether it will be formed this year on April 29, or let’s say, on November 24th, 2012. And why it is so, this will come at another time.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
