The subject of “Aravot” online “Face to Face” transmission series is discussed by NA MP, RPA faction member Hovhannes Sahakyan and Deputy Leader of the “Heritage” party Armen Martirosyan.
Aram Abrahamyan – It seemed that the society did not show particular interest in the local government elections held last Sunday. Is it the case or not, and if so, then why?
Hovhannes Sahakyan – We need to view the problem in two ways. Interested people and political teams made it a topic for discussion, but, in general, the public seemed to be very active to discuss. That is both good and bad. Importantly, an electoral culture is formed when the teams themselves are monitoring the basic election process. For example, in Abovyan and Alaverdi regions, the fight was pretty fiery, and in the case of any, at least one tiny mistake or omission, they were trying to voice it through the media. There is no limit to the broadcast to make the problems heard or assessable, they were pre-prepared, everything was going on in its own way, maybe this is also the reason for non-occurrence of any speculations or discussions, with the exception of a few of NA episodes, which was not associated with local government elections.
A. A. – Why wasn’t your view discussed?
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Armen Martirosyan – I agree with my colleague on one issue that, indeed, a certain culture has been formed in connection with the local government elections. Unfortunately, this culture is not positive, it actually became totally apolitical, totally controllable by the government. In fact, LGU as a local government unit was not established loop, because all the powers, in fact, were attributed to the governors, the governors are monitoring all financial flows, the governors essentially assign the appointments, including the school principal and the teachers’ staff. We all know it, not to speak about the risks of corruption.
A. A. – Do you want the village mayor to appoint the school director?
A. M. – I want our education system be good and the school be independent. Now, back to the LGU elections, I must say that you saw that the opposition did not participate in it, and indeed there was no such a talk by and large regarding these elections, although quite essential cities were involved.
A. A. – Who was holding your hand to stop participating in it?
A. M. – Only one simple circumstance was holding our hand that this is not a political election, and the political parties, moreover, the opposition party is participating in a political process, when there is an opportunity to present a political alternative, an opportunity to run a political campaign, an opportunity to somehow mobilize people and push to fight. Local government elections, thanks to this years-long consistent policy, resulted in the fact that it already makes no sense to fight in the LGU level, because even if you, by some miracle, push any independent candidate for any rural municipality, in a short period of time he univocally becomes a dependent person to the governor.
H. S. – One question. The 2013 presidential elections onwards, in which of these 3 major cities did the “Heritage” party conduct activities: Alaverdi, Abovyan and Artashat?
A. M. – In all the places, the “Heritage” had conducted activities, I would like to simply remind you that in the 2013 presidential elections, both in Artashat and Abovyan, Raffi Hovhannisyan officially came out with a victory. What he won unofficially, we leave it aside, I am talking about the official ones.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
“Aravot” Daily, 12.06.2015
