“Yerkir” says it is now clear that the May 6 parliamentary elections failed to put an end to squabbles within the Armenian government. “They only deepened this nearly 18-month grueling uncertainty,” writes the paper. “Obviously, if the election results were legitimate all issues related to the government’s formation would have been quickly solved. And yet [in Armenia] the key to the government’s formation is not elections but behind-the-scene agreements.” The paper is worried that this uncertainty will continue at least until the 2013 presidential election.
“Zhoghovurd” denounces as “disgraceful” serious changes made by some political parties in their electoral slates after the polls. The paper says candidates are forced to withdraw from those lists en masse despite the fact that some of them actively campaigned in the elections and deserved to have parliament seats.
“168 Zham” estimates that 45 of the 69 deputies of the new parliament representing the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) are entrepreneurs. “Of course, their businesses may be registered in the name of their wives, children or other relatives but this doesn’t change the essence of the matter,” comments the paper. “That means President Serzh Sarkisian’s promise to separate business from the state system has not become a reality. There are business deputies on both the proportional list of the HHK and among those Republicans who were elected in single-mandate constituencies.”
Galust Sahakian, an HHK deputy chairman, is quoted by “168 Zham” as disagreeing with this assertion. “None of them is a businessman,” he claims. “Being a shareholder and an entrepreneur are different things.”
Grigor Harutiunian, a prominent member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), tells “Aravot” that the decision by two opposition parties to pull out of the bloc had nothing to do with disagreements on who should go to the parliament. “It’s wrong to see material considerations behind that,” he says.
“Zhamanak” says it trusts in media allegations that the fate of Armenia’s governing coalition is being decided in Russia because “it is not secret to anyone what a great influence Moscow has on the Armenian authorities.” “The Armenian authorities are not countering that in any way,” the paper says, adding that opposition parties are also unwilling to challenge Moscow.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Zhoghovurd” denounces as “disgraceful” serious changes made by some political parties in their electoral slates after the polls. The paper says candidates are forced to withdraw from those lists en masse despite the fact that some of them actively campaigned in the elections and deserved to have parliament seats.
“168 Zham” estimates that 45 of the 69 deputies of the new parliament representing the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) are entrepreneurs. “Of course, their businesses may be registered in the name of their wives, children or other relatives but this doesn’t change the essence of the matter,” comments the paper. “That means President Serzh Sarkisian’s promise to separate business from the state system has not become a reality. There are business deputies on both the proportional list of the HHK and among those Republicans who were elected in single-mandate constituencies.”
Galust Sahakian, an HHK deputy chairman, is quoted by “168 Zham” as disagreeing with this assertion. “None of them is a businessman,” he claims. “Being a shareholder and an entrepreneur are different things.”
Grigor Harutiunian, a prominent member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), tells “Aravot” that the decision by two opposition parties to pull out of the bloc had nothing to do with disagreements on who should go to the parliament. “It’s wrong to see material considerations behind that,” he says.
“Zhamanak” says it trusts in media allegations that the fate of Armenia’s governing coalition is being decided in Russia because “it is not secret to anyone what a great influence Moscow has on the Armenian authorities.” “The Armenian authorities are not countering that in any way,” the paper says, adding that opposition parties are also unwilling to challenge Moscow.
(Aghasi Yenokian)