Recently, “New Times” party leader Aram Karapetyan has made a prediction, with which even I fully agree. He predicted that the next parliamentary elections, whenever they occur, would be entirely “opposition”. Yes, it is very likely that it will be so judging by today’s rhetoric of political forces. “Down with robbers!” they shout, who in the last 20 years, in this-or-that period, were engaged in plundering and have become millionaires. “Down with speedometers!
All of this money flows into Sashik’s pocket,” they exclaim, whose pockets currently is filled in with numerous money collected from citizens. “So, how poor people is gonna live, but to take on the pilgrim’s staff,” regrettably would say those who had built palaces at the expenses of the same people. “Down with the Madrid principles, not a single inch of land to the age-old foe!” would vehemently say co-authors of the Madrid principles. “No more state racket in the form of funded pension!” are chanting once apologists of “funded pension”.
In short, everyone, including the RPA, will saddle up “populist horses,” and no one is reluctant to give an explanation, if things are really so bad, what have I done for the situation not to happen. Everyone has learned how to deliver speeches that people like, although no one will exceed Arshak Sadoyan in 90s. Neither now, nor, of course, during the elections, there are and will be sober and cold assessment of the situation, which cannot be only the reflection of public complaints. There is no clear separation between the primary and secondary, too. Evidently, it is easier to irritate people with the topics of funded pension, speedometer, and the “red line”. Karabakh issue, the Customs Union, and just elections are less “people-pleasing” topics.
It seems to me, and many, at least formally, would agree with it that one of the core issues is the legitimacy of power, from which the significant part of the rest incurs. I keep insisting that the problem with its entirety is unsolvable. However, I see the first step as follows. Armenia’s first, second and the third presidents turn to our citizens and say, “Dear countrymen, under our leadership many elections and two constitutional referendums were forged. We’re sorry for it, let the law enforcement agencies identify the fault of each of us. But, as a political move, we are bound to no longer participate in presidential and parliamentary elections, neither proportionally, nor by any party list.” It would be more valuable than people-pleasing talks about the “red lines”.
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Aram ABRAHAMYAN
