“Aravot” is unconvinced by pro-government politicians’ arguments that membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) poses no threat to Armenia’s independence because the EEU is a purely economic structure. The paper counters that the Soviet Union had for decades used an economic structure to limit the sovereignty of Eastern European states governed by Communist regimes.
“Zhamanak” says that the failure by the Prosperous Armenia (BHK), Zharangutyun and Armenian National Congress (HAK) parties to back an impeachment bill put forward by maverick oppositionist Nikol Pashinian has exposed their truce face. The paper speculates that they either dislike Pashinian too much or have “some agreements with the authorities.”
“Pashinian’s initiative demonstrated that for the opposition trio Serzh Sarkisian’s impeachment is a taboo subject,” writes “168 Zham.” “They can speak of an abstract regime change but don’t want to discuss the issue of Serzh Sarkisian’s removal from power.”
“Zhoghovurd” reports that Armenian lawmakers on Monday received copies of the state budget for 2015 drafted by the government and looked overwhelmed by its sheer volume. “Instead of trying to familiarize themselves with the 2,000-page document and understand what the government has included in it, they wanted to clear their parliament desks from that burden as soon as possible,” claims the paper.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” claims that the Central Bank’s hard currency interventions aimed at shoring up the Armenian dram are actually facilitating exchange rate speculations. The paper says that Armenian oligarchs are readily buying what they see as cheap U.S. dollars taken from the country’s hard currency reserves.
(Heghine Buniatian)