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Speaker's resignation to weaken party, consolidate government
- Armenian paper
Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
13 May 06
Text of report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh on 13 May
headlined "The labyrinth that ended in deadlock"
It seems at first sight that as a party with several thousand members
and an ambitious leader, the Law-Governed Country Party [LGCP] that
left the ruling coalition will become the main driving force in
domestic political developments.
But let us try to understand what really happened. The LGCP was set up
as the most classical "ruling party" and its leader has always been
considered to be a politician that is equally close to the former and
incumbent authorities.
So what will happen to the party which does not have a specific
ideology after its leaves the ruling coalition? It is clear that 80-90
per cent of the party members will gradually leave it and join other
new parties that are formed day by day.
Moreover, one should not forget that the leader of the LGCP as well as
its rank-and-file members have never had features typical of the
opposition, since populism does not at all mean that one has the
necessary revolutionary features to fight and win.
The LGCP will be absolutely disappointed as it will not find its place
in the political field. At present, the LGCP is a potential opponent
for other opposition forces. And very soon they will start saying that
the LGCP is simply an attempt to form a false opposition force.
In fact, neither the authorities nor the opposition can see the LGCP
as a reliable partner. For the opposition, it is an ambitious newcomer
with a doubtful past, and for the ruling coalition, it is a deserter.
We think that after failure to legally inherit power, [LGCP leader
Artur] Bagdasaryan will be disappointed this time, too. He cannot play
a uniting role even in the pro-Western sector of the opposition. It
will be very difficult for him to gain a victory over [Democratic
Party leader] Aram Sarkisyan, and he is lagging behind [Heritage Party
leader] Raffi Ovanesyan and [National and Democratic Party leader]
Vazgen Manukyan by his intellectual potential.
Now about serious external expectations. In the West one can hardly
think of banking on the "burnt card" as Bagdasaryan had attracted the
West's attention as Armenian official No 2. But at present, the
situation has changed a lot.
But what consequences will the LGCP's step have for other parties of
the ruling coalition? We think they will have temporary problems that
can be settled, the vacant seats of officials will be quickly occupied
and life will go on.
Moreover, the absence of the LGCP and its ambitious leader might play
a consolidating role for the entire government.
Thus, until the parliamentary election of 2007 the parliament will
have three opposition factions that will prevail over the Justice and
National Unity factions by their clamour, but noticeably lag behind by
their rating and authority.
- Armenian paper
Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
13 May 06
Text of report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh on 13 May
headlined "The labyrinth that ended in deadlock"
It seems at first sight that as a party with several thousand members
and an ambitious leader, the Law-Governed Country Party [LGCP] that
left the ruling coalition will become the main driving force in
domestic political developments.
But let us try to understand what really happened. The LGCP was set up
as the most classical "ruling party" and its leader has always been
considered to be a politician that is equally close to the former and
incumbent authorities.
So what will happen to the party which does not have a specific
ideology after its leaves the ruling coalition? It is clear that 80-90
per cent of the party members will gradually leave it and join other
new parties that are formed day by day.
Moreover, one should not forget that the leader of the LGCP as well as
its rank-and-file members have never had features typical of the
opposition, since populism does not at all mean that one has the
necessary revolutionary features to fight and win.
The LGCP will be absolutely disappointed as it will not find its place
in the political field. At present, the LGCP is a potential opponent
for other opposition forces. And very soon they will start saying that
the LGCP is simply an attempt to form a false opposition force.
In fact, neither the authorities nor the opposition can see the LGCP
as a reliable partner. For the opposition, it is an ambitious newcomer
with a doubtful past, and for the ruling coalition, it is a deserter.
We think that after failure to legally inherit power, [LGCP leader
Artur] Bagdasaryan will be disappointed this time, too. He cannot play
a uniting role even in the pro-Western sector of the opposition. It
will be very difficult for him to gain a victory over [Democratic
Party leader] Aram Sarkisyan, and he is lagging behind [Heritage Party
leader] Raffi Ovanesyan and [National and Democratic Party leader]
Vazgen Manukyan by his intellectual potential.
Now about serious external expectations. In the West one can hardly
think of banking on the "burnt card" as Bagdasaryan had attracted the
West's attention as Armenian official No 2. But at present, the
situation has changed a lot.
But what consequences will the LGCP's step have for other parties of
the ruling coalition? We think they will have temporary problems that
can be settled, the vacant seats of officials will be quickly occupied
and life will go on.
Moreover, the absence of the LGCP and its ambitious leader might play
a consolidating role for the entire government.
Thus, until the parliamentary election of 2007 the parliament will
have three opposition factions that will prevail over the Justice and
National Unity factions by their clamour, but noticeably lag behind by
their rating and authority.