Aram Sarkisyan: "Armenia needs new ideological formula"

Democratic Party leader Aram Sarkisyan talks about social-democratic ideology, possible changes, neo-liberal politics and the relationship between government and opposition in Armenia in an interview to VK.

- Currently there is a dialogue between the government and the Armenian National Congress (ANC). One of its results was the accession of the Armenian authorities to the demands of the opposition on the need for reforms. However, real change is not visible yet. What is the reason for this, in your opinion?

- I consider it wrong to talk about the ANC as the only Armenian opposition, because the Armenian opposition is represented not only by the ANC, or, for example, the Heritage Party, which has a faction in the parliament. The passivity of other opposition forces as compared with these groups is not due to a lack of potential. The very opposition will still reveal and manifest itself. This is particularly relevant against the backdrop of a complete lack of ideological differences between the ANC and the ruling coalition. There is no difference between pro-government parties and the opposition forces positioning themselves on the right. In words, both of them are dissatisfied with the current situation and demonstrate a zealous desire to radically reform the structure of the state government. They are striving, but again only in words, to replace the existing system of government, implement changes in the system and protect the social and democratic rights of citizens. Neither the authorities, nor the people who consider themselves the opposition are planning to implement the changes in reality, because both the opposition and the ruling Republican Party are adherents of neo-liberal policies, which are failing everywhere in the world nowadays.

The systemic world crisis proves my words. To continue implementing the same policy in Armenia means triggering a backlash, following someone else’s mistakes. To preserve the so-called stability in Armenia the ANC and the coalition just have to start a dialogue. I am not ruling out the existence of a tacit agreement between them, since both of them will benefit from waiting out this tense situation. Fortunately, everyone has already understood that a repetition of events of March 1, 2008, is like committing suicide for both the authorities and the ANC. Against the prospects of these two forces real change in Armenia can only take place if a political force with a social-democratic ideology comes to power.

- What is your program for the development of Armenia?

- The opposition has not yet presented an alternative program. Therein lies the root of its problems. The program of the Democratic Party, which we consider an alternative to the policies of the current authorities, is called the Armenian model of democratic socialism. We believe that market relations require a certain degree of regulation by the state. A classic social-democratic model of economic development and of the republic as a whole is very different from that which is being applied today by the ruling coalition in Armenia. We will necessarily eliminate the oligarchic economic model in case of coming to power. Equally important is the elimination of the existing political system based on neo-liberal values. If this political system persists, than after the elimination of monopolies it will again facilitate their emergence. This can be seen in the example of the governmental policies of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who laid the foundations of the existing system in Armenia.

- Is the Democratic Party going to participate in the upcoming elections in spring 2012 in alliance with other forces, or alone? Is cooperation with the Socialist Party ARF possible?

- This issue has not been resolved yet, but we do not rule out the possibility of an alliance with parties ideologically close to us. As for the ARF, this party represents not so much a socialist but a national ideology, which is necessary for Armenia. We believe it is necessary that the other main hypostasis of this party will also be reflected in its activities. If we manage to find a relevant framework for cooperation, there will be cooperation, given that the national ideology is as much a priority for us as the socialist one. In this regard, we are already holding talks with certain parties which I do not want to name.

- The president promised the people true positive changes in Armenia by early summer. Is this possible? What measures should be taken in your opinion?

- I think the changes will be cosmetic in nature. At a time when oligarchic monopolists continue to receive monthly profits worth millions of dollars in our poor country, leaving only crumbs from the master's table for the people, then no real, radical change can happen. In this situation it is necessary to force all the monopolists to come out of the shadows, which the authorities allowed them to do. In order to do that, Armenia needs an effective fiscal system, which is limping heavily in our country. In this regard I consider it necessary to implement a progressive tax, which has long been present in all progressive countries. If the Armenian fiscal authorities worked properly, then naturally they would have to constantly tread on the tail of big businesses. However, given the bond between big businesses and government in Armenia, they will never tread on their own tail.

In the conditions of extreme polarization of Armenian society a social rebellion is almost inevitable, it is only question a question of time. In this case it will be already too late to be thinking about reforms; events in the Arab world are a vivid example. Under this emergency situation Armenia needs a completely new ideological formula, which will help it to produce an effective program of development of the economy and the country as a whole. Otherwise, we will never get out of this vicious circle. Migration from Armenia nowadays has reached an alarming scale, and no reforms will be able to make up for this loss of human potential in the future. I am convinced that the state should regain significant functions, which it has already partially lost, otherwise the chaos will only worsen.

- Some politicians continue to call the resignation of the prime minister a miraculous cure for everything...

- I do not think that Tigran Sarkisian should be sent into retirement. On the contrary, we must allow his government to act more independently and decisively, to expand its functions by giving it additional powers. The prime minister is well-educated and considered to be a good manager. The system in Armenia spoils the employees itself, therefore a total replacement of the entire system is required, not of individuals. The government of Sarkisian, which does nothing but collect taxes from small- and medium-sized businesses, is not able to go about its direct duties. None of the credits worth billions of dollars which Armenia has received over the past two years was directed at reviving the real economic sector. It is unclear what part of these funds has provided new jobs and given impetus to the development or introduction of new technologies. These funds have simply been wasted.

Interview by David Stepanyan, Armenia. Exclusively for VK