The Armenian opposition has split in two while on the threshold of the parliamentary elections. One side believes that they need to take part in the elections with a large alliance, while the others believe that, on the contrary, they have to participate separately. In fact, those in favor of that “base” their opinions with amazing logic. If the opposition unites as one, it will be easier for the authorities because the struggle will be aimed in one direction.
It’s not casual that each of the “justifiers” has been revealed several times as being a “mine” placed in the oppositional field. Perhaps they are using this to try to play their unreserved role as oppositionists. Can you imagine? The used “mines” are trying to work as a “mine” or, better yet, they think that the ones in front of them are the carriers. However, the sad thing is that it is not excluded that this just may work out for them. But the talks on forming an alliance have not been effective so far. It is not excluded that a part of the opposition, including the National Democratic Union, “Hanrapetutyun” (Republic), “Zharangutyun” (Inheritance) and other political parties form a pre-electoral alliance.
During a Friday press conference at the “Friday” club, leader of “Inheritance” and first Foreign Minister of Armenia Raffi Hovhannisyan announced that the “political outcomes” will be announced on March 2 at 12:00 p.m. at the “Armenia-Marriot” hotel. Until then, the “consultations and searches” continue. According to leader of “Inheritance”, there have been different kinds of difficulties, starting from the personal and ending with the ideological, organizational and material and “of course, something that is probably very normal in the political field-to have each individual’s surrounding and political party have its colleague and leader unite as one”.
“I think that that is a psychological problem and must be solved,” said Hovhannisyan and added that the unification of the opposition is preferable and possible. R. Hovhannnisyan informed that he is in favor of “solutions of the large opposition” and not the “private, small, egocentric solutions that simply serve short-lived interests”.
“I hope that the larger opposition will develop both in number and quality,” he said. R. Hovhannisyan also announced that he is not a “careerist” and is ready to be the second or even the tenth on the list…
“I respect the decisions of my colleagues. If they wish to go to the elections alone, that’s their problem. I simply think that that is wrong. Judging from the current situation of Armenia, that is a huge strategic, ideological and civil error and I must do whatever I can to bring the big solution. I have no problem with the order or the list. The problem concerns effectiveness and presenting not only the list, but the alternative,” mentioned Hovhannisyan.
Will Raffi Hovhannisyan join the “impeachment project”? Let’s recall that the “Aylentrank” (Alternative) NGO/political organization has proposed to the opposition to form the “Impeachment” united proportional list, enter the parliament with that list and demand Robert Kocharyan’s impeachment.
“I don’t know anything about the “impeachment” alliance. I simply overviewed the presses and know that it was either the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily or the “Aylentrank” organization representative that made the proposal. I respect that initiative. However, my understanding of the meaning of that organization is that it had sent a fair warning through the means of the political field, even to the oppositionists that we just can not make calls on revolution or change of power, but rather it has to be a meaningful, planned-out and predetermined alternative. I agree with that and think that that proposal, at least with the first display, contradicts that,” announced R. Hovhannisyan. According to him, if the current president has committed any acts that serve as a basis for impeachment, then that goal should be accomplished. However, according to leader of “Inheritance”, the current regime of Armenia must be subjected to impeachment.
“We must impeach the mentality of posting political party posters on the walls of village districts and the municipalities. We should impeach the national security service officials who are doing business or are persecuting and/or threatening civilians instead of doing their job,” announced Raffi Hovhannisyan.
According to the latter, some initiative groups from the Aragatsotn region, the villages and the city have proposed his nomination in the majority electoral system.
“Recently a group of people marched on Nalbandyan Street (that’s where the National Security Service building is located-R.T.) to understand who the initiators are, what connections they have and why they are making such a proposal,” said R. Hovhannisyan and added: “We must impeach the psychology, the mentality, the working regime according to which Armenia’s prosecution slurs over the rights of the citizens instead of defending them…”
“Do you see any grounds for demanding Robert Kocharyan’s impeachment and secondly, are there any political parties that you wouldn’t want to be part of the large alliance that you mentioned due to their pro-Russian approaches or issues in the past?” In response to this R. Hovhannisyan replied:
“Yes and no only to the first question and no to the second question.”
Hovhannisyan doesn’t think it is right to go to the elections alone “for Armenia”; although as the “most spare variant”, it is not excluded that”Inheritance” goes to the elections alone too.
P.S. Raffi Hovhannisyan also mentioned that March 4 will mark one year that the “Zharangutyun” party has been “closed”. According to him, it is demanded by law that the original charter of the political party be registered for each registration, however the party’s original charter remains “locked up illegally in the office”. “Zharangutyun” has appealed to the corresponding bodies on that issue, but still has not received a reply.