Interview by Susanna Petrosyan
Ex-Health Minister of Armenia and member of social-democratic party ‘Gnchak’ Ararat Mkrtchyan told VK correspondent about his summary of 2011 and made some predictions for 2012.
- What were the most important events in the political life of Armenia last year?
- The ruling coalition completely failed to observe its election promises, as well as the development program for 2008-2012. The new budget for 2012 simply doesn’t have the funds to carry out the program. Even the PM admitted the high level of poverty and emigration. Different international monitoring organizations also agree that the state of affairs in Armenia is deplorable.
As for the Armenian National Congress, it had made a number of decisive steps towards forming a true civic society in our country. By increasing constitutional pressure on the government, the opposition managed to free political convicts, to freely organize rallies and political meetings. And most importantly, it managed to open up a direct dialog with the government. In my opinion these talks between opposition and government laid foundation to the new political culture in Armenia.
- Do you think this dialog will also influence the outcome of the future elections in a positive manner?
- Of course, if the parties learn to compromise, they will try to reach an agreement in the face of serious challenges. Despite harsh rhetoric, I believe there will be open pre-election TV-debates that would ensure the highest level of elections’ transparency possible in Armenia.
- How would you characterize the developments within the ruling coalition?
- After the events of March, 1 of 2008 there exist certain tensions between the two parties that form the ruling coalition – the ‘Prosperous Armenia’ party and the Republican Party of Armenia. In the second half of 2011 the rift became more obvious. The latest arrests of ‘Prosperous Armenia’ members became the culmination of this face-off.
I think this conflict will only escalate. The President and the Republican Party of Armenia try to make the ‘Prosperous Armenia’ party members participate in the elections in the RPA’s lists, at it will certainly cause some resistance.
As for the third nominal member of the ruling coalition, the “State of law” party, it is not a self-standing political force, it agrees with the Republican Party on all important matters.
- What is the role of recent high officials’ resignations in this process?
- I don’t think there was any political background to these resignations. It looked more like an interior conflict within the ruling elite, and the resignations were aimed at strengthening of the President’s authority.
- You’ve mentioned that the authorities failed to observe their promises. But the Armenian National Congress also failed to reach its goal posed in 2011 – to change the power in the country. So what is the atmosphere in the opposition camp today?
- 2011 was a hard and eventful for the opposition. The ANC is undergoing the process of consolidation and restructing. Some politicians left the association, but it didn’t have any major impact.
Yes, the ANC couldn’t constitutionally change the power, but it is still possible that current critical situation in economy combined with ANC’s efforts would lead to early elections.
- What can you tell us about the political year 2011 in general?
- I think it wasn’t successful for our country.
- What event will be the most important one in 2012, how do you think?
- The parliamentary elections scheduled for May and the presidential elections that are supposed to take place 8 months later. The presidential campaigning will begin right after the parliamentary polls.
