In an interview with “Hayots Ashkhar” ruling Republican Party lawmaker Hovannes Sahakian reminds of the opposition effort ahead of last May’s parliamentary election, implying that the current political consultations among forces opposed to the government would suffer the same fate: “We see no problem in the ongoing political consultations, this is their tactics, strategy and it is up to them to decide what steps to make. But there was a similar process prior to the parliamentary elections when joint headquarters had been set up. We all saw what happened to that.”
“Hraparak” hails any attempt at consolidation among opposition forces, but questions the platform on which several political groups in Armenia are now seeking to combine their efforts in the run-up to the February presidential election. “The agenda of the negotiations has nothing to do with the upcoming election. On the other hand, it is possible that these negotiations are organized according to a government scenario aimed at precluding any prospect of real unity among the opposition,” the daily suggests.
In an interview with “Haykakan Zhamanak” Samvel Harutiunian, the father of one of the victims of the 2008 post-election clashes, raises questions before the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) regarding its current political talks with the Prosperous Armenia Party that was a coalition member party five years ago and is held by many oppositionists responsible for the deadly suppression of the street protests. “This is a little bit inhumane, you know. If they are to remember us from election to election, it is better they don’t remember us at all. And these negotiations that the HAK and the BHK are conducting… have they asked the BHK leader or members about what will happen to the issue of those killed in the March 1, 2008 clashes should they managed to unite and win?… Will those who acted like criminals be held responsible for that? If they raise this issue, then I will certainly support this unity.”
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” describes the opposition behavior when it comes to debating the budget as ‘strange’: “Instead of challenging the government over the shortage of money they are trying to show that there is this money. It is the government that is right in this matter, because they squander and misappropriate the national wealth and what is left, indeed, is not enough to raise the minimum wage. And when the opposition is trying to prove that this money does exist, it, in fact, entreats the government to embezzle less. And this is what’s strange, because such entreaties, as a rule, have absolutely no effect no matter in what situation the country is.”
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Hraparak” hails any attempt at consolidation among opposition forces, but questions the platform on which several political groups in Armenia are now seeking to combine their efforts in the run-up to the February presidential election. “The agenda of the negotiations has nothing to do with the upcoming election. On the other hand, it is possible that these negotiations are organized according to a government scenario aimed at precluding any prospect of real unity among the opposition,” the daily suggests.
In an interview with “Haykakan Zhamanak” Samvel Harutiunian, the father of one of the victims of the 2008 post-election clashes, raises questions before the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) regarding its current political talks with the Prosperous Armenia Party that was a coalition member party five years ago and is held by many oppositionists responsible for the deadly suppression of the street protests. “This is a little bit inhumane, you know. If they are to remember us from election to election, it is better they don’t remember us at all. And these negotiations that the HAK and the BHK are conducting… have they asked the BHK leader or members about what will happen to the issue of those killed in the March 1, 2008 clashes should they managed to unite and win?… Will those who acted like criminals be held responsible for that? If they raise this issue, then I will certainly support this unity.”
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” describes the opposition behavior when it comes to debating the budget as ‘strange’: “Instead of challenging the government over the shortage of money they are trying to show that there is this money. It is the government that is right in this matter, because they squander and misappropriate the national wealth and what is left, indeed, is not enough to raise the minimum wage. And when the opposition is trying to prove that this money does exist, it, in fact, entreats the government to embezzle less. And this is what’s strange, because such entreaties, as a rule, have absolutely no effect no matter in what situation the country is.”
(Aghasi Yenokian)