It has become a custom already that during the ten years of being a part of the government ARF has been trying to present all achievements as due to them and the failures – as due to others.
After the parliamentary elections a number of ARF members, who had received high positions, announced that their party was an alternative both for the government and the opposition. Now the Dashnaks (ARF members), who represent themselves as “neither government nor opposition”, or as once a republican said “the one-day political hermaphrodites”, are saying that they are going to nominate their own candidate for president and are not going to support the candidacy of Serzh Sargsyan (probably their participation will help him more than their direct support). Recently one of the leaders of ARF, Hrant Margaryan said that “ARF is positive opposition.” Thus, during the opening of the ARF general meeting in Shushi the organizers announced that they were keeping with the government for the purpose of solving some problems and were not connected with the negative things. We wander what the elder deputy president of the ARP, a coalition partner of ARF, Galust Sahakyan thinks about the decision and policy of ARF. It turned out that the ARP had got used to the fact that “during elections the other powers are announcing that the black job is done by the ARP and that the good job is done by them.” As for the ARF’s announcement concerning being “positive opposition”, G. Sahakyan said that “there is no positive or negative opposition or government”. “The political field is divided in two branches – opposition and government. All the other formulations are demagogy and at least everyone has to give a response for his actions somehow,” said the ARP deputy chair. The latter also made some hints and gave advices to the ARF. He said that if the ARF is going to run for president “under the cover of the opposition”, it should not be a part of the government now, and if it is going to be a part of the government, it should agree upon certain issues with the governmental parties. “There is a solution, which is that they can recall their administrative tools and ministers and participate in the elections with another format. I think it is also possible that they may keep their places and participate in the elections more correctly and with governmental responsibility,” said G. Sahakyan. Let’s remember that recently the head of ARF faction, Hrayr Karapetyan said that he thought it was almost impossible that the ARF would recall its ministers and officials before the elections. In fact, the only version that remains is agreeing upon certain issues. By the way, the ARP deputy chair did not exclude the fact that if the ARF runs for president “under the cover of the opposition”, the ARP may again give portfolios to it after its possible victory. In a word, the most possible version of development is having agreed upon certain issues. Galust Sahakyan says he has analyzed the existing situation and come to the conclusion that there isn’t any other candidate being able to compete with their candidate now. According to him, no party can have victory alone “since always we should remember that logically people exist”. As for the ARP, its headquarters are ready for the upcoming presidential elections for about 60-70% of their potential.