The ruling “Civil Contract” party has decided to dismiss the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Ishkhan Saghatelyan and the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Vahe Hakobyan. The Civil Contract members are still thinking about depriving the other deputies of their mandate or position. However, these two opposition deputies will definitely be “punished” for fighting in the streets for a month and a half and saying harsh words to Pashinyan.
How effective that struggle was and whether even if its slogans were implemented, they would really save the country is a separate conversation. The task here is to “put the opposition in its place” so that they will never again dare to question the wise domestic and foreign policy of the government.
“Demonstration beating” is a collective show, which is familiar to us since Soviet times. The “party” gathered in, say, a factory, and discussed the anti-social behavior of “locksmith Ivanov,” which was expressed in the abuse of alcohol or listening to hostile radio stations. The most active party members made crushing speeches on Cuscom’s instructions and made “pillar of insults” towards Ivanov, who “deviated from the right path.” Organizational conclusions were made on the basis of these speeches.
Or, for example, from the recent past. Do you remember the public execution organized by the RPA in February 2015, which targeted Gagik Tsarukyan? There are also pioneers in the CP who specialized in inflicting “strong blows” on the opposition, such as Armen Ashotyan and Karen Avagyan.
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The purpose of these dismissals is, therefore, not only the actual punishment, but also the “assembly” process. Because this “party meeting” will give a wide opportunity to talk about “robbery,” paralyzing traffic and other real or unreal sins of the opposition. And the talk about the legal grounds for dismissal of opposition MPs, even if it takes place, is very fleeting.
The government, the parliamentary majority, since 1995, has never been ready to discuss any issue in a calm, restrained, and constructive atmosphere. The logic is as follows. If we are the majority, then in principle we have no reason to discuss any issue with the opposition. We will appoint or remove whoever we want, we will pass any law we want, and now, if the opposition does not behave wisely, we can deprive them of their mandates.
…Thomas Aquinas wrote back in the 13th century that if power is misused, it does not matter whether it is a monarchy or a republic. All the same, “tyranny” will be established. “What does it matter,” he asked, “how many dictators are above your head?”
Aram Abrahamyan
