“Hayots Ashkhar” says that the “rejectionist” stance of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) is costing more and more supporters and enabling the Zharangutyun and Dashnaktsutyun parties to “improve their positions” in the opposition camp. The paper says both opposition parties can now exploit that to make a strong showing in the next parliamentary elections.
“Aravot” comments on Zharangutyun leaders claims that the HAK is not “an established political force.” “If we look at the issue with strictly scientific approaches then one will have to acknowledge that that claim is correct because there are no established political forces in Armenia,” editorializes the paper. “Zharangutyun is not an exception either. One of the criteria for being established is when you analyze and publicly acknowledge your mistakes. In this sense, a certain degree of maturity has been displayed by Dashnaktsutyun, whereas the Congress is absolutely devoid of an ability to conduct such an analysis.” The paper says the key question that needs to be addressed by the HAK is why it got only 70,000 votes in the May 31 municipal elections.
According to “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun,” President Serzh Sarkisian thinks that with his Republican Party’s landslide victory in the polls he “killed off the society and has nothing to fear anymore.” “Whether he is right or wrong is a different question,” says the pro-opposition daily. “But one thing is certain: the May 31 elections ended a whole period in Armenia’s political life. As a result of that period, Serzh Sarkisian personally has won while Armenia has lost. But maybe the loser is not Armenia, but the opposition. Yes, the opposition got only 70,000 votes. But a question arises. If there was no ballot stuffing and [vote buying] carousel, would the pro-government forces manage to garner that many votes? We strongly doubt it.”
“Zhamanak” says that “only an idiot” can believe that President Sarkisian needs advice from Armenian parties, civic groups and the presidential Public Council to decide whether or not to declare an amnesty for dozens of arrested opposition members. “In preparing a decree on the amnesty, the presidential palace has effectively shown that the body called the Public Council and petty parties attempting to speak on behalf of the public are mere decorations for the authorities,” says the paper.
“The amnesty is aimed at easing public tension,” writes “Kapital.” “The completed and ongoing trials have not answered the main question: who masterminded and carried out the ten killings [on March 1, 2008?] In this situation it is pointless to keep dozens of people in jail, arousing public discontent.” The paper says the Yerevan elections gave Sarkisian enough self-confidence to free the jailed oppositionists.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Aravot” comments on Zharangutyun leaders claims that the HAK is not “an established political force.” “If we look at the issue with strictly scientific approaches then one will have to acknowledge that that claim is correct because there are no established political forces in Armenia,” editorializes the paper. “Zharangutyun is not an exception either. One of the criteria for being established is when you analyze and publicly acknowledge your mistakes. In this sense, a certain degree of maturity has been displayed by Dashnaktsutyun, whereas the Congress is absolutely devoid of an ability to conduct such an analysis.” The paper says the key question that needs to be addressed by the HAK is why it got only 70,000 votes in the May 31 municipal elections.
According to “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun,” President Serzh Sarkisian thinks that with his Republican Party’s landslide victory in the polls he “killed off the society and has nothing to fear anymore.” “Whether he is right or wrong is a different question,” says the pro-opposition daily. “But one thing is certain: the May 31 elections ended a whole period in Armenia’s political life. As a result of that period, Serzh Sarkisian personally has won while Armenia has lost. But maybe the loser is not Armenia, but the opposition. Yes, the opposition got only 70,000 votes. But a question arises. If there was no ballot stuffing and [vote buying] carousel, would the pro-government forces manage to garner that many votes? We strongly doubt it.”
“Zhamanak” says that “only an idiot” can believe that President Sarkisian needs advice from Armenian parties, civic groups and the presidential Public Council to decide whether or not to declare an amnesty for dozens of arrested opposition members. “In preparing a decree on the amnesty, the presidential palace has effectively shown that the body called the Public Council and petty parties attempting to speak on behalf of the public are mere decorations for the authorities,” says the paper.
“The amnesty is aimed at easing public tension,” writes “Kapital.” “The completed and ongoing trials have not answered the main question: who masterminded and carried out the ten killings [on March 1, 2008?] In this situation it is pointless to keep dozens of people in jail, arousing public discontent.” The paper says the Yerevan elections gave Sarkisian enough self-confidence to free the jailed oppositionists.
(Aghasi Yenokian)