“For a certain purpose in politics, you can even unite with the devil. Only you have to be sure that you can trick the devil and not be tricked by it”. This idea belongs to the famous 19th-century German philosopher and economist Karl Marx, who was “privatized” by Bolsheviks for a while. However, Marx’s truth is universal, and was applied not only by Bolsheviks, but also anti-Bolsheviks: for example, they both had united with Hitler earlier, for their goals, and later they united with each other.
Small Armenia’s domestic policy, of course, does not have that scale. Here, political powers do not have much to share among themselves, but the principle is the same, it is impossible not to cooperate. Getting involved in politics and not cooperating means to fire with a gun. If it is rejected, then the rest is a cooperation.
If you participate in the elections, even if you criticize the authorities, then you are cooperating. If you have taken the mandates of the National Assembly and the Council of Elders, that is also a cooperation. If you are discussing projects, then you are cooperating. If you are voting, even against, then again you are cooperating. Collaboration means playing with certain rules, even if those rules do not please you.
The authorities and the opposition have cooperated, creating an Electoral Code that actually excludes frauds in electoral districts. “Yelq”, Rule of Law party, and Prosperous Armenia party have cooperated in Vanadzor, overthrowing the Elders’ sessions held by the RPA, who had received the minority of votes. Who can say that this is wrong and unacceptable?
Currently, “Yerkir Tsirani” has 5 mandates in the Yerevan Council of Elders. God bless them! They made a right step taking part in elections, taking the mandates. But if that party really wants to change something in the capital, then it is necessary to cooperate with “Yelq” and the RPA. Otherwise, there will be only scandals and shouting, with zero results.
Those who are for cooperation are not traitors, provided that arrangements are public and fundamental. To be honest, I am not sure that making scandals at every step is in the interests of Yerevan citizens, and cooperating on some bills surely is not.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
