– There are rumors going around that you are the “under the shade” leader of the “Union for Armenia” political party. Simultaneously, rumor has it that Chief Prosecutor of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan is the leader. Why did you prefer to take on the role of a “shady” leader?
– Just because there are rumors doesn’t mean that that’s the truth. If that was the case, then I would certainly make a public announcement. There have to be serious analyses on whether I’m part of that party or not. Everything is very clear-I announced that I am ready to help my colleagues if they actually wish to found a political party. The other news going around is just false. So, you really shouldn’t offend this or that member of the fraction, saying that he is the “undercover leader” or the “dull cardinal” of the party. This is a wrong way of looking at things. Let’s not forget that they entered the parliament with a majority, not because they were part of the list of political parties. That means that each one of them has his electorate, people who have cast their votes for them during some elections. As for the rumors claiming that I am an “undercover leader”, that is just ridiculous. Why undercover? What’s the meaning of that? If I wanted to lead a political party, then I would simply do that openly or found my own.
– How are you going to help the party? Are you going to help them financially?
– I don’t really have that much to give. My financial resources are probably fewer than those of others. Nobody has all the money. I am not planning on spending too much money in the political field. This isn’t a business; it’s politics. I am going to provide more human resources.
– A couple of months ago, you said that it was quite possible that you would found a political party and that there would be more than 50 Russian businessmen members. Is it possible for you to insert your resources in this party?
– I mentioned people, not finances. The Russian businessmen with whom I work with have ties with Armenia and have shown support throughout the years. They also have certain electorates here and if I become active in the political processes here, it’s quite possible that those businessmen will centralize their electorates in my party.
– Can we assume that the “Union for Armenia” party is going to be pro-Russian?
– I will answer your question with my question: who says that the MPs of our fraction or I only have colleagues in Russia? We have good relations with Armenian businessmen as well. Why don’t you consider that as the most important? I am pro-Armenian and have an Armenian mentality and not American, Russian or Moldovan.
– Wouldn’t it be better if the businessmen didn’t get mixed up in politics and not turn their financial resources into a political factor?
– Not everyone enters politics. There are pedagogues who enter the political field, economists and doctors. There are just too many businessmen striving to enter the field and that’s a different story. The reasons for that are explanatory. As soon as the economic legislation is regulated and the capital is protected, there will no longer be a need to have businessmen in politics. Perhaps the businessman is thinking about protecting his business? The subjectivity factor is bigger in transitional countries-there must be legalities. Until that happens, each person keeps on thinking objectively-to avoid any danger and enter politics. If the economic legislation is not regulated, then there won’t be any investments and there will not be large reproduction. We will simply stay where we are by making small progress.
– But at least these MPs showed that the National Assembly is simply a place where businessmen can feel secure.
– Perhaps there will be more similar cases at the parliament, but there are people who really don’t need that.
– It was clear from the first day the “Union for Armenia” party was founded that it was going to be yet another pro-government party. Why didn’t the members of your fraction become members of that party, or found one on their own?
– A new party hasn’t been founded; people have simply become members of one of the registered parties. If they were to become members of another party, then there would be the question of why this one? In order to not create the 77th or 78th political party, they became members of the party, which hadn’t done anything big and was pretty well-known. As for being pro-government, I don’t think that the members of our fraction are pro-government. They are more constructive. I think it would be better to ask them that question. But let’s not forget that in many cases, when the coalition was getting stronger and the opposition was getting weaker, we helped the oppositionists so that we can keep the balance in the political field.
– What is the percentage of the party going to be?
– I am simply helping the party. You should really ask them that.