From time to time, as, the journalists, interview people who introduce themselves as a “president of a political party”, and we, without hesitation, admit their this kind of “introducing”. Usually, there are maximum 20-30 people in the team of such “leaders”.
Meanwhile, according to the law, political parties must have at least 5,000 members and regional structures. If it were true, then in the event of about 50 political parties “operating” in Armenia, our country should have at least 250 thousand party-members. And if we add to it that some political parties claim that there are 200-300 thousand members in their membership, then it turns out that the entire full legal age population of Armenia is a party-member. I highly doubt that even all Parliamentary political parties have 5,000 members. And, there are definitely no such parties out of the Parliament.
In this regard, I would like to ask the parliamentary trio and especially my dear friends of PAP, “Where do you dig out some unknown political parties, the existence of which are at the best known to the journalists, and then announce that these parties, whose entire members, as people used to say in the past, would fit in one “Zaporozhets” (a subcompact car), are joining you?” Are you providing quantity? Are you sure that these person-parties appearing next to you would not discredit you? Their benefit is clear: it is almost the only chance to remind of themselves. But which is the benefit of the opposition?
Both, Armenian and global experience shows that the problem is not with people and the number of parties. The problem is in decisiveness and sincerity to achieve goals. Also given that, perhaps, it would be right to eliminate the requirement in the law for having 5000 members and regional structures. Anyway, they cheat and no one checks how many members are actually in this-or-that political party.
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In some cases, when it becomes apparent that violations of the law are massive, it is better to legalize the situation that actually exists. If, for example, the significant part of the MPs and ministers are involved in the business, but are lying, saying that they are not involved and invent some “fig leafs” in the form of “accreditation management” or ownership of “mother-in-law’s name”, then we should eliminate this inactive norm of the law and write down such laws that shall regulate the business activities of the officials.
If apart from 3-4 political parties, no one can “enroll” 5000 party-members, then we need to eliminate this requirement by finding other but definitely a natural mechanism for consolidation of political parties. One wants to be called a president of a political party? No problem. Let him satisfy his ambitions. Let him finally understand how ridiculous his situation is.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
