Մատչելիության հղումներ

Press Review


“The upcoming elections can be considered fully democratic only with some reservations,” writes “Hayots Ashkhar.” “All opinion polls show that the majority of citizens consider the elections democratic in some respects and undemocratic in other respects. And generally speaking, modern-day Armenia is neither a democratic nor an authoritarian state. What we have a is some semi-democratic model to which both the society and the government have largely adapted themselves.”

“Haykakan Zhamanak” says the authorities have done everything to prevent all election contenders from using television to get their message across. In an editorial, the paper specifically complaints about a decision by the Central Election Commission to allow parties to use only up to 2 minutes of free airtime a day on state television. (Armenia’s Electoral Code entitles them to a total of 60 minutes of free airtime.) “Clearly, it’s impossible to present a complete message to the public with two-minute bits, even if the campaign lasts for six months,” it says. “The logic with which our authorities have handled this issue suggests that they pursued one objective. To do everything to ensure that there is no complete statement made on propaganda air.”

“Our society is really deluded and confused,” says “Zhamanak Yerevan.” “Never before have the electable goods been of such poor quality and without an alternative. At the same time, never before have the same goods been as garish and deceptive as they are now. What should the voter do? Whom should they give their dear single vote, if they don’t plan to sell it? The average citizen is really faced with a difficult choice.”

“Aravot” deplores Serzh Sarkisian’s remark that Armenia should put economic development ahead of protection of human rights. “In the conditions of democracy, fuel could be imported not only by Mika, Flash and a small circle of [government] insiders but by any entrepreneur,” editorializes the paper. “As a result, the de facto monopoly would disappear and the prices would go down. If newspapers in a democratic regime write for a whole month that the environment minister has privatized gold mines, then either the minister sues them or is isolated from the public. In a democratic country, parliament seats are won not by uneducated wealthy mobsters but competent specialists with in-depth knowledge of legislation. In sum, without democracy and human rights, the socioeconomic needs of Armenia’s population will not be met.”

“The next parliament will be under the even greater influence of the oligarchy, and eight years later we will have a completely oligarchic parliament,” former Finance Minister Eduard Sandoyan tells “Hayk.”

(Atom Markarian)
XS
SM
MD
LG