Five years ago it seemed to everyone that participation in presidential elections gave an opportunity to everyone to be elected, and in case of losing at least their participation would be honorable. This is the reason why Stepan Demirchyan and Artashes Geghamyan failed to share that opportunity and participated in the elections separately to gain the status of the main opposition leader in case of losing the rival. However, we know that a person is not a good wrestler alone, furthermore, the image of the best wrestler is privatized since 1998 and all the shares are owned by one shareholder only.
Now, this person has to leave, but he has spoilt the political system of the country during these ten years so much, that is not only impossible to win, but also there is no sense to run for president.
The oppositionists are confused; they either want benefit as much as they can or think about the issue of Karabakh, i.e. they are trying to find a joint candidate backed both by the opposition and the authorities. The first one, due to known reasons, is impossible. The second version is possible, but without any benefits.
In virtue of this confusion Vazgen Manukyan’s isolation could be considered honorable if he didn’t from time to time cry out from his place against Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who is still keeping stony silence, and from time to time speak ideas, which are very annoying.
It is an established fact that Vazgen Manukyan believes he is the only presidential candidate. I think there are many people in Armenia who think that they are the best candidate for president. I mean in Armenia, not within the opposition. For instance, the hairdresser Poghos, driver Petros, Kirakos (in order not to breach the gender equity) lady Haykanush can all have equal rights to think that they are the best candidates for president, provided that they comply with the requirements of the Constitution.
However, won’t these people appear in the same situation as Vazgen Manukyan is in now if they try to realize their ambitions and run for president?
“I think there are more important issues than the issue whether Poghos or Petros will become president”, said Vazgen Manukyan on September 5 during his meeting with journalists in Pastark club, who certainly did not mean the ones I mentioned above. He believes the most important task is to change the model.
Everyone understands that the existing model should be changed. It is also clear that this model should be replaced with a better model. However, Vazgen Manukyan’s periodic meetings don’t show what exactly he wants and what he proposes to do for that purpose. Even if we try to imagine that the mentioned new model will be the vice versa of the existing model, still there are many issues to discuss and clarify. How is the NDP leader going to make those changes in case when he has been losing his reputation during the past 11 years?
“As for reputation, if someone has a better reputation than me and suggests me to join him and support him I will refuse and say that his reputation does not interest me and will ask him about the principles he advocates”, said Vazgen Manukyan in Pastark club.
The Americans would say “Yeah, right!” It is right that reputations don’t change the results, but notwithstanding five years ago Vazgen Manukyan was collaborating with parties and political powers which advocated unclear models. If Stepan Demirchyan and/or Aram Z. Sargsyan and/or Aram G. Sargsyan satisfied his requirements of models we wander what has changed besides the baseless predictions of some politicians and journalists concerning the possible return of Levon Ter-Petrosyan and some others are enjoying the expression of joining on the part of two members of “Karabakh” committee.
“Don’t rely on me”, this is the message of Vazgen Manukyan to the person, whose intentions are known to God only. “Levon’s model is bad”, this is Vazgen Manukyan’s message to people, who doesn’t know whether Ter-Petrosyan will run or not.
I don’t know what kind of model the NDP leader may propose for Armenia or whether he is able to realize such models, but it is clear that the moral model of our country needs to be changed, which can be done only by Vazgen Manukyan by accepting the mission of stony silence from his past partners and opponents. In such case people will understand that victory is not reached based on percentage, but based on the content.