“Yerkir” comments scathingly on a procession which was organized in Yerevan on Thursday by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and led by Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian on the occasion of a religious festival. The paper accuses the HHK of politicizing and exploiting the holiday dedicated to 5th century Armenian martyrs. “Isn’t the widespread Republicanization of teachers and civil servants enough for them?” it asks.
“Zhamanak” also attacks the HHK and Sarkisian and Yerevan Mayor Taron Markarian in particular. “For the Republican prime minister and mayor, martyrs are the most important thing because they do not demand social justice and equality,” writes the paper critical of the government. “They do not demand tax and customs reforms, jobs, fair competition, and rule of law. Nor do they demand that the Yerevan streets be cleared of snow and ice, that public transportation be sorted out and the city’s green areas to be preserved.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” says the outcome of the February 12 mayoral election in Hrazdan showed that the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) can no longer “rely on aggression and make hatred its main weapon.” “An electoral victory requires huge organizational work, the formation of powerful local structures and their daily work with people, as was shown by the HHK,” argues the pro-government daily.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” wonders how relevant authorities could possibly punish several HHK who scandalously voted in place of their absent colleagues in the National Assembly last week. “There is also another problem here,” writes the paper. “If the Special Investigative Service (SIS) presses the case it will mean that the parliament did not make a quorum on that day and that all decisions adopted [by the parliament] are illegal.” The opposition daily says the SIS is therefore highly unlikely to investigate the scandal.
Hermine Naghdalian, one of those deputies, assures “Irates de facto” that she did not press other HHK lawmakers’ vote buttons. “The deputy sitting next to me is Karen Avagian,” she says. “Anyone can log on to the National Assembly website and see there that nobody voted in his place.” Naghdalian blames the scandal on the HHK’s political foes.
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Zhamanak” also attacks the HHK and Sarkisian and Yerevan Mayor Taron Markarian in particular. “For the Republican prime minister and mayor, martyrs are the most important thing because they do not demand social justice and equality,” writes the paper critical of the government. “They do not demand tax and customs reforms, jobs, fair competition, and rule of law. Nor do they demand that the Yerevan streets be cleared of snow and ice, that public transportation be sorted out and the city’s green areas to be preserved.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” says the outcome of the February 12 mayoral election in Hrazdan showed that the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) can no longer “rely on aggression and make hatred its main weapon.” “An electoral victory requires huge organizational work, the formation of powerful local structures and their daily work with people, as was shown by the HHK,” argues the pro-government daily.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” wonders how relevant authorities could possibly punish several HHK who scandalously voted in place of their absent colleagues in the National Assembly last week. “There is also another problem here,” writes the paper. “If the Special Investigative Service (SIS) presses the case it will mean that the parliament did not make a quorum on that day and that all decisions adopted [by the parliament] are illegal.” The opposition daily says the SIS is therefore highly unlikely to investigate the scandal.
Hermine Naghdalian, one of those deputies, assures “Irates de facto” that she did not press other HHK lawmakers’ vote buttons. “The deputy sitting next to me is Karen Avagian,” she says. “Anyone can log on to the National Assembly website and see there that nobody voted in his place.” Naghdalian blames the scandal on the HHK’s political foes.
(Tigran Avetisian)