The topic of Aravot online “Face to Face” program is discussed between NA MPs Lyudmila Sargsyan (ANC) and Karine Achemyan (RPA).
Aram Abrahamyan – And so, we have a new Speaker of the National Assembly. What standards were the parliamentary majority guided when nominating the candidacy of Galust Sahakyan?
Karine Achemyan – We are guided by classical political standards, as Galust Sahakyan is a well-known, long-time politician, with a great experience, and I think that our decision is also acceptable not only for Republicans, but also for all of the forces that are presented in the National Assembly. True, some of them boycotted, and did not participate, but the main part, and 101 is the absolute majority, elected him as Speaker of the National Assembly.
A. A. – And why did you boycott? Don’t you like Galust Sahakyan? Or, in general?
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Lyudmila Sargsyan – It was all the same for us who will be the Speaker of the National Assembly, because we generally do not participate in government decisions, we do not have the opportunity for it and also we do not want to bear the responsibility for the appointment of any staff member. Frankly speaking, there are not many great expectations from Galust Sahakyan, and, basically, nothing will be changed. According to me, they are not guided by your mentioned classical political standards. If they were guided by given standards, then they would find a more suitable candidate, more tolerant. Maybe Galust Sahakyan is tolerant towards Republicans, but as a party leader, we are in touch for 2 years, and I have not noticed any tolerance from his side.
A. A – And whom would you like to be from the Republican Party?
L. S. – Yesterday, Samvel Aleksanyan was asking me to nominate his candidacy, I would not be against his candidacy, too.
A. A. – Would Samvel Aleksanyan be better than Galust Sahakyan?
L. S. – Basically, it is all the same for me.
K. A. – I’m surprised when the MP is saying that it is all the same for him who the Speaker of the National Assembly is. For a pro-government and opposition MP, I think, it should not be the same because the Speaker of the National Assembly is a key position.
L. S. – It is as much important for the MPs who the leader of the country is in general, but since we do not have an absolute opportunity to influence on that decision, consequently, the Republican Party nominates the one who is convenient to it and not the other factions.
K. A. – However, you had the opportunity to vote in favor of a person in your wing and among you, but you did not do it and I’m very surprised.
L. S. – And what was the necessity of entering into a process where you obviously understand that you do not have any beneficial position and no one from the opposition was to pass. Should the Republican Party be so tolerant and broad-minded to nominate a candidate for the Speaker of the National Assembly and choose from the opposition, then I would consider that something might be changed in our country.
A. A. – Why did not you suggest?
K. A. – I sometimes wonder because there are rules and laws, which cannot be violated. We are the majority, and it is not accidental. First, it is very important when you’re making your party if you want to have the majority in the Parliament, and a huge army of electorates, in general, you should make you structures working, you should have a definite backbone in your party. And we are the party that does not work only from election to election, or is not a one-man party.
A. A. – And why didn’t this majority agree for someone not from the RPA?
K. A. – And why should it be one of them, if we are the majority? Actually, the forces become majority to be able to make decisions, in other words, the right to make decisions is ours, and we’re not going to give up our positions.
L. S. – I’m also surprised that Ms. Achemyan is constantly surprised. If we are talking about the majority, about the strong backbone, then, here, I’m very sorry, when the government is transferred from one to the other, and in fact no election process is taking place, then it is very easy to have a majority there. I do think that today people are fascinated by the Speaker of the National Assembly. You know what people around you are thinking, and we actually know what sentiments people have.
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
