Whether the Constitution will be changed or not, the political parties need to think about whom they “sent” to the Parliament. In the case of both parliamentary and semi-presidential model, the role of the National Assembly is enormous, but the attitude of citizens towards the government institutions is formed by the assessments of the intellectual level of the members thereof. The current level of the majority of lawmakers is very low. We say National Assembly and understand Shmays, General Manvel, Tokhmakh Mher and so on. Only three factions: ANC, “Heritage” and ARF, are 100 percent composed of people having a certain benchmark of literacy, the rest of the factions contain “shmays-type” phenomena.
You would say, perhaps, that people with businesses, underground and criminal ambitions are easier to become a parliamentarian from the ruling team. It is true, but only partially. It is quite possible that these people would participate in the work of the Parliament not in person but thru proxies and “substitutes” by choosing literate people for it. For example, the Republican MP, Head of the Armenian delegation to the NATO Koryun Nahapetyan’s connection with the well-known businessman is known, but no one seems does not question his ability to work at the highest legislative body.
The average intellectual level of the citizens of Armenia is higher than the average level of our National Assembly’s. Superb professionals specialized in various fields, including law and economics, whose potentials can be used in the legislative works, are living in our country. The political parties that pretend to have a seat in the parliament have great possibilities to use these resources. It is not necessarily for the people to become a parliamentarian by stubbornness, violence or money.
But if, however, someone appears in the parliament and behaves himself “not suitable for the parliamentarian”, then after several admonitions, he should be deprived of his mandate. Yesterday, the Ethics Committee of the National Assembly passed a similar decision on Arakel Movsisyan (Shmays) known for his profanity-language. But this does not make a difference for Shmays. He surely will continue to behave himself in the National Assembly as he behaves in his kebab-house.
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As long as the public opinion in Armenia does not obtain any “organizational form”, such “light” reflections do not bring any benefit.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
