“Zhamanak” says that Hovik Abrahamian’s impending appointment as parliament speaker will put him in an awkward position seeing as the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) of Gagik Tsarukian could regularly challenge the government and the pro-government majority in the National Assembly. Abrahamian is thought to have a close rapport with Tsarukian not least because of the fact that two of their children are married to one another. “Hovik Abrahamian will try to do everything to keep the BHK from looking like an opposition, an alternative [to the government,]” speculates the paper. On the other hand, it says, the BHK’s parliamentary faction will be seeking to at least look like an opposition force. The BHK’s new status could therefore prove “fateful” for the speaker, it says.
“Zhoghovurd” also comments on the issue, saying that Abrahamian was forced to resign last November after “playing games” with Tsarukian but seems to have regained President Serzh Sarkisian’s trust since then. “Of course, it’s not just about Sarkisian’s trust,” writes the paper. “The thing is that Abrahamian already achieved a fairly influential role in the past thanks to family links with BHK leader Gagik Tsarukian.” Abrahamian’s influence will rise further now that the BHK is in opposition and Sarkisian will need a strong “intermediary” for his dealings with Tsarukian, predicts the paper.
“168 Zham” says the 131 members of the new National Assembly may have different backgrounds, political affiliations and reputations but they are all united in having a “penchant for the parliamentary mandate.” “That is, they are simultaneously diverse and similar to each other, which is very relevant to our time,” editorializes the paper. “So one can only hope that they will tolerate each after all other without forgetting the bonds uniting them. Especially given that intolerance is condemned by virtually all parties nowadays.”
“Aravot” believes that for all the pessimism surrounding the parliament most of the newly elected deputies are “capable of legislative work.” The paper points to the parliamentary factions of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), the Zharangutyun (Heritage) party as well as about half of the lawmakers representing the BHK and the ruling HHK. “The previous parliament did not have more numerous thinking and reading deputies showing an interest in the content of laws,” it says. At the same, continues “Aravot,” it would be naïve to anticipate that the parliament will adopt laws giving businesses real incentives to pay their taxes in full because “the HHK’s and the BHK’s reading and thinking members became deputies thanks to the money of the non-reading and non-thinking ones.” “And the latter are not at all interested in sensible tax legislation,” concludes the independent daily.
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Zhoghovurd” also comments on the issue, saying that Abrahamian was forced to resign last November after “playing games” with Tsarukian but seems to have regained President Serzh Sarkisian’s trust since then. “Of course, it’s not just about Sarkisian’s trust,” writes the paper. “The thing is that Abrahamian already achieved a fairly influential role in the past thanks to family links with BHK leader Gagik Tsarukian.” Abrahamian’s influence will rise further now that the BHK is in opposition and Sarkisian will need a strong “intermediary” for his dealings with Tsarukian, predicts the paper.
“168 Zham” says the 131 members of the new National Assembly may have different backgrounds, political affiliations and reputations but they are all united in having a “penchant for the parliamentary mandate.” “That is, they are simultaneously diverse and similar to each other, which is very relevant to our time,” editorializes the paper. “So one can only hope that they will tolerate each after all other without forgetting the bonds uniting them. Especially given that intolerance is condemned by virtually all parties nowadays.”
“Aravot” believes that for all the pessimism surrounding the parliament most of the newly elected deputies are “capable of legislative work.” The paper points to the parliamentary factions of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), the Zharangutyun (Heritage) party as well as about half of the lawmakers representing the BHK and the ruling HHK. “The previous parliament did not have more numerous thinking and reading deputies showing an interest in the content of laws,” it says. At the same, continues “Aravot,” it would be naïve to anticipate that the parliament will adopt laws giving businesses real incentives to pay their taxes in full because “the HHK’s and the BHK’s reading and thinking members became deputies thanks to the money of the non-reading and non-thinking ones.” “And the latter are not at all interested in sensible tax legislation,” concludes the independent daily.
(Tigran Avetisian)