THE REVOLUTIONARY KIND MUST COME
Interview with Lilit Galstyan, journalist,
member of ARF
Ms. Galstyan, what is your assessment of this pre-election period?
Will Serzh Sargsyan’s slogan “Secure Armenia” be brought into being
after February 18?
We are living in a controversial period which is typical of crisis
situations, our society is anxious, we are chased by the question what
is to be done. The public is discussing the need for new Armenia,
change of generation, new political elite which is an objective
necessity. However, changes, elites, public and political institutions
are not born out of nowhere. There must be a public need-claim. Yet,
this claim is not enough either unless the political and public
climate is ensured which will accumulate and use this claim. Either
the claimants (people) are not determined enough or the leading
political forces are not competent. Meanwhile, change of generation
is not an ordinary decision of a party conference. We need the kind
which is persuasive and revolutionary, goes all the way, is sincere,
intellectual, brings along political and moral messages. No change
means the political climate, the leaders and their values are not
viable enough. We have what we deserve, as both participants and
actors.
As to the slogan, we have heard a lot of campaign slogans and other
slogans with a similar content which were all about security but
these slogans have changed nothing. Morality, stability, protected
rights, civil society are discussed but in reality we lose our values,
we face economic, political, social failures, menacing emigration
and corruption.
We do not have a big choice. I can see two scenarios. First, the
ruling political elite is prudent enough to understand that the current
model of Armenia has no prospects and to start a downward revolution
introducing mechanisms of internal healing, involving professionals in
governance who are sincerely concerned about the future of Armenia,
have not been marred by political trade over the past twenty years,
the kind which has civil and cultural values. This is a vulnerable
yet possible option.
Can we expect “old” actors to take this step?
Not, of course. In total devaluation persons also devaluate, we
witness their entire way of political and ideological degeneration.
The people who highlight morality in politics, including me, reject
people whom we already know. This is due to the quality of elections.
If an election is held by a huge team of people who do favors, misuse
the administrative and financial resource, the team will need to be
rewarded later, while reward and reform cannot go together.
The second scenario, which is not preferable, will keep Armenia in the
same place, elections will be held as always, and the political elite
will act as always. Let’s not be pessimistic, think about the resources
of political prudence. Serzh Sargsyan may have a vision during his
second term, staying in history as a downward revolution leader.
Do you mean punishing oligarchs, carrying out reforms once a legitimate
president?
The oligarchy has always been an irreplaceable electoral resource.
Punishing oligarchs or separation of politics and business (which is
one of our serious issues) depends on what criteria the government
sets for elections. Armenia is overwhelmed with pessimism, civil
apathy, elections are not a value any more. This is very bad. This
means we are living in a fake framework which has nothing to do with
democracy. There may be legitimate elections, low role of oligarchs
but in this political barrenness legitimacy is not only a legal issue
but also a moral issue. Both the government and the opposition are
to blame. They both must act to rid of this heavy burden.
Siranuysh Papyan 12:52 23/01/2013
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