Whereas the pro-government parties are getting ready for the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Armenian opposition is staying under the shade. You get the impression that Armenian oppositionists don’t know what they want. The last thing Armenians tie the opposition with is Raffi Hovhannisyan’s “Inheritance” party.
This political party has been fighting for a long time now…for a lock that prohibits them to enter their office. The “Inheritance” party held its fourth convention at the Writers’ Union of Armenia a couple of days ago. R. Hovhannisyan made a speech and once again criticized the current situation of Armenia due to the illegitimate authorities.
According to him, Armenian society is facing the reality and is demanding the political parties to be more decisive. The leader of “Inheritance” believes that they reach their goals and “help the people build the country”.
“The people want more from us because what we are doing now is not enough,” says Raffi Hovhannisyan.
However, he didn’t mention what he’s doing less of. Recently, leader of the National Democratic party Vazgen Manukyan announced that their party plans on forming a civil movement with the “Inheritance” party, but nobody has heard anything about that to this day besides that announcement. Raffi Hovhannisyan had this to say about that during the fourth convention:
“We’re going to ask everyone to join us for the sake of the civil movement and we’re certain that many people will accept our call, support us, just like last year when thousands of intellectuals and civilians joined the civil movement.”
Raffi Hovhannisyan said that the authorities are doing their best to keep the opposition, especially the “Inheritance” party, silent.
“Television networks have taken care of that. But we shouldn’t let something like this get in the way,” he said.
In regard to the electoral bribes and “buying” the upcoming elections, R. Hovhannisyan believes that the person giving electoral bribes isn’t going to play a role in shaping the future of the country where he and his children live.
During the convention, the party went through some structural reforms and nine members were elected as the new administrative staff. The convention approved an agenda listing the future plans of the “Inheritance” party. Based on that plan, the party plans to work with the political parties aimed towards having liberal and fair elections. The party places high emphasis on electoral reforms. It is also stated that the next failure of the electoral system will mean that tolerance and capriciousness will win the 2007 parliamentary and 2008 presidential elections. The “Inheritance” party is of the opinion that Armenia needs a new voting code, political will and a good voting culture.
In response to the question as to whether or not “Inheritance” would collaborate with the newly founded parties, in particular Samvel Babayan from the “Alliance” party and Gagik Tsarukyan from “Prosperous Armenia” during an interview with “Azatutyun” radio station, Raffi Hovhannisyan said that they are ready to work with any political party where democracy and national interests reign supreme.