Something Is Wrong With The System
Siranuysh Papyan
14:53 28/12/2012
Story from Lragir.am News:
Interview with Hayk A. Martirosyan, Candidate of Sciences, a doctoral
student in political science at Sorbonne (New York)
Mr. Martirosyan, you predicted a dirty election campaign two months
ago but it seems we will have a passive campaign.
I think a very irrational phenomenon happened which is quite rational
in the context of Armenia since here politics develops along the most
irrational and illogical scenarios. Some events, such as Prosperous
Armenia’s statements in Brussels, which indicated that the party was
getting ready for the campaign. In normal countries, normal parties
evaluate everything, the risks and the circumstances before taking
serious steps. The PAP made several certain steps then it stepped
back. No doubt a very serious talk with the PAP leadership preceded
the party’s statement.
So you mean we will have a very dull campaign?
No, this will be a far more interesting election because the incumbent
president will, most probably, have a huge resource after the election
which will be for the first time in the history of independent
Armenia. We’ll witness a predictable fight with a predictable outcome.
What do you think about Ter-Petrosyan’s statement explaining his
refusal to run for president?
This time, Ter-Petrosyan saved himself from the shameful defeat. I
think there is no doubt that he would have received only the votes of
his relatives and a small group of his supporters. I would even say
that he should not have returned to politics. His return means that
the memory of our nation is too short and it is ready to forgive even
those who are to blame for all the diseases of the country. In normal
countries, a former leader who, under the pressure of foreign forces,
stopped the victorious progress of the army and signed a cease-fire
which could be something like capitulation that would solve the
national issue once and forever would face court. The founder of the
vicious system of Armenia is the first president, he is the architect
of the permanent deadlock of the Karabakh issue and will be
responsible for the second possible war.
Recently, Serzh Sargsyan has stated about the importance of the civil
society and a new Armenia. Many think these are just words and
forecast the start of allocation of money and power. What should we
expect in the next few years?
I don’t think his speech is as populist as many say. The government in
pseudo-democratic countries is more cautious during the first term of
its president, leaving radical steps to the second term but at the
same time it takes steps to ensure reelection. No deep and systemic
changes were held during the first term of the president, though he
was able to stabilize the situation at the foreign front. We can
deduce logically that if reelected Serzh Sargsyan will have no
motivation for radical steps. However, there is one more circumstance:
Serzh Sargsyan will try to hold on to power even after the second term
and the only way to do it so will be the establishment of a
parliamentary republic. For this purpose, he will take up serious
steps which may be deep changes, including systemic.
What is the way out of the current situation?
What is possible in a presidential republic is impossible or very
difficult in a parliamentary republic. The international experience
shows the most developed and democratic countries are parliamentary.
Armenia is facing a situation when ahead of the next war, which is
inevitable, Armenia needs consolidation and a strong spirit. There is
no balance in terms of weapons, so we need solidarity and morale.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
