Why do the parties seek for a “headcount”?
There are no massive political parties in Armenia. The parties that declare that they are as such, either are not sincere or do not understand the real situation. Yes, there are thousands of people in our country who have the RPA membership ticket saved somewhere in the drawer of their “chest”. But ask them what they think about the Republican Party and in “private conversation” they will say such things that are definitely not for printing in the newspaper. True, this does not exclude that in the case of the possibility they will take this ticket from the “chest” to get some privileges or positions. It is also not excluded that they will do “job” during the elections and referenda.
Until February, last year, there were thousands of people who had the PAP party’s membership ticket. Many of them had become members of this party for money, other – again for some expectations. Now, I suppose that the ranks of this party are reduced. ARF is a little different story. Obviously, there are a couple of thousand Armenians in Armenia and the Diaspora, to whom the burning of the Turkish flag on April 24 causes true enjoyment and who sincerely are living by the 19th-century visions. Whether ARF is an opposition in Armenia or authorities, they do not care much. We may not accept this party’s ideology but we cannot but state that ARF has ranks sincerely devoted to given ideology. But again, these ranks are not “broad masses”.
Speaking about the “massiveness” of the remaining ones is not serious. In addition to the three mentioned ones, no one has 5 thousand members even on the paper as required by the law, not to mention that the majority are man-parties. The most interestingly when the “massiveness illusion” is created thru the so-called “merging” and “alliances”. If you remember, several years ago, almost every day it was announced that this-and-this is “joining the popular movement”. As a “merger”, often some “lost and found” party, and NGO or an individual figure. Interestingly, where are all those “merged ones” and the “popular movement” in general. Or, was the entire “power” of the “movement” due to one businessman, his being or not being engaged in the politics.
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Now, the RoL has decided to be a “rebranding” and to represent as a “National Revival”. But, this time too, in order to create a “massiveness illusion”, there are some unknown organizations, who “join” the “National Revival”, perhaps, by Ara Abrahamian’s possible “sponsoring” expectations. Recently, for example, it was announced that the “National Salvation” party has merged the “National Revival”. Let us not confuse this party with the Public Salvation Front, which is a lot in Armenia, different kinds of “saviors.” The great part of other organizations merged into the “National Revival” is known as much as the “National Salvation” but prior to the elections, it will be announced that 145 or 1555 organizations have merged into the “National Revival”.
Actually, this prurience to provide a “headcount” does not particularly give anything. In Armenia, it is possible to enter the National Assembly either by using the levers of the authorities and become a majority or by using the people’s discontent – a minority. Whether it is one party or a merging of 1000 parties, it is not essential.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
