The platform of the Republican Party of Armenia for 2007 contemplated a number of changes in different sectors to result in development. The platform writes the following: “The implementation of the platform is to tackle Armenia’s development to a new level to be followed by continuous growing economy, effective administration system, protected and secure people, developed civic society where plurality of opinions will be respected, there will be tolerance, justice and harmony.” As a result of this plan the RPA was promising that during the office period in 2007- 2012 the GDP in Armenia and export would grow twice, investments would grow by three times salaries – twice, pensions and aids – by 2,5 times, and as a result of all of this the poverty level would reduce by 1,5 times. The five year of the RPA being in office is coming to the end and the achievements in the mentioned sectors are far from being real and what they used to promise. Since 2007 the minimum salary has been increased from 25.000 to 32.500. In this situation the line of poverty expressed in Armenian drams is 33.517 drams. During these five years the average salary has been increased from 74.000 drams to 114.000. The average labor pension has been increased from 21.370 to 31.225 drams, and the aids to needy families – from 21.100 to 29.530 drams. In addition, there has been huge inflation in this period. Accordingly, it means that the RPA has failed to fulfill its promises and provisions in the pre- election platform. As a result of this, during these years in Armenia the level of poverty has increased from 27 to 35,8%, i.e. has increased by 9%. In contrast, this party was promising to cut down the poverty level by 1,5 times. Both the RPA and government representatives urge that the reason is the economic crisis. “I can say that the main reason is really the crisis because it changed the dynamics in many countries. Certainly it touched Armenia as well. If the crisis was not there, the situation with the economy would be the same as we were planning. It is hard for me to say because nobody can give a correct answer to that question. But as there were changes in the dynamics, the crisis was the main factor that changed the economic situation,” said finance minister Vache Gabrielyan to us.
The government has been speaking about the crisis so much during the past two years that it seems they will build a monument to crisis and put it in the center of the Republic Square.
“We understand that the crisis and the change of the environment could affect on the situation and processes, but we are sorry that the political powers were not strong enough to change the responsibilities undertaken by the coalition memorandum; the government’s strategy and projects were not changed either. And the result is that we see now that there is minimum 70% difference between this situation and what they have promised. The indicators of this fact are the growing migration, low level of social conditions, the difficult social and psychological situation, high level of shady economy, as well as monopolies in the economy and unemployment. This has influenced on competition as well. It is not by chance that international organizations have given low rating to Armenia by considering it risky,” says ARF member Artsvik Minasyan concerning the policy of the government.
The information above shows that the RPA has failed to fulfill its promises, but very soon they have to also develop their platform for 2012- 2017. However, they have to bring explanations or justifications why they have failed, otherwise they will not be able to collect sufficient votes for the upcoming elections. “When there are force- majeure conditions, in this case the crisis, governments cannot fulfill their promises. It is like that everywhere in the world. I don’t think we have to protect ourselves. Also, people should understand that it is impossible to do everything in platforms. Even though a lot of work has been done in all directions, we have to start the works for 2012 plans soon. The RPA does not close anything; the RPA believes this is a continuous process. All our goals will be included briefly in the platform, so we don’t think that we have had many shortcomings during these five years. We will write everything and present to the society,” said RPA deputy president Galust Sahakyan.
“I think that the times when people may believe mere promises and explanations have passed. Because you cannot explain to the Armenian ordinary citizen that there is a crisis and that is why the minimum salary is twice less than the social basket of goods. Or, you cannot explain that the pensions of the old are so low because of the crisis. It is time when we have to stop for a while and realize that we cannot let the living conditions fall down this level anymore. ” We need fast development,” says A. Minasyan.