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Mafia Game In The Armenian Way

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  • Mafia Game In The Armenian Way

    MAFIA GAME IN THE ARMENIAN WAY
    Naira Hayrumyan

    KarabakhOpen
    01-02-2008 14:59:34

    The presidential race in Armenia increasingly resembles the game
    Mafia which has been popular among the political and scholarly elite
    and youth since the Soviet years.

    Like in the popular game, too many candidates are running in the
    race to make counting others' cards difficult. And like in the game,
    there are "honest citizens", "investigators" and "Mafiosi".

    However, as long as the game is not over, nobody can tell who was
    honest and who pretended to be. In fact, in the Armenian election the
    "viewers" will hardly understand who is who even after the voting.

    Those who have ever played mafia know the purpose of the game is to
    make everyone believe that you are an honest citizen and you must
    fight mafia. In addition, you can do it in any way - lying, bluffing,
    arousing sympathy, letting down friends and destroying others.

    Eventually the "honest citizens" try to destroy mafia, whereas the
    "Mafiosi" try to protect themselves and reproduce. In addition, all
    the actions take place with eyes closed, and without any idea of who
    the opponent is.

    An honest citizen does not know who is honest and who is
    bluffing. However, they must pretend that they are looking through
    everyone and planning every step. Everyone wears a clever face and
    tells lies, knowing that the others realize everything.

    The reality in Armenia is similar to the "last night" of the game
    when the decision is made on whom to "kill" the last. It should be
    noted that the candidates are playing in accordance with the rules -
    "till the last".

    The supporters of one candidate are beaten, the office of another
    is attacked, the third's supporters are checked by the tax service,
    the fourth candidate presents a selection of lyrical poems and
    complains of the other candidates who are speaking "clever words". The
    representative of the parliament majority is criticizing the acting
    prime minister who did not take a vacation during his election
    campaign.

    Most interestingly, unlike "Mafiosi", the "outsiders" do not leave
    the "game". For instance, the leaving president states that "after
    the election we will not harm the supporters of the All-Armenian
    Movement." One more difference: whoever you are in the game, an honest
    citizen or a Mafiosi, if you lose, you admit your defeat. Meanwhile,
    in the Armenian elections they stake their all as if it is a matter
    of life and death.

    Although, in other countries too, elections resemble a game. The
    only difference is that after the "night", in accordance with the
    legislation, the candidates hold public debates. In Armenia, everyone
    agrees to debates but no debates are ever held. One more thing: in
    other countries the resignation of a prime minister like in Italy is
    not perceived as a mortal insult. It is just politics.

    Usually 9 to 11 people play the game. The others watch. Without
    interfering and snickering. Here is another resemblance between
    the Armenian elections and the game: for the first time the voters
    are embarrassed and do not know what to do. And there is not a line
    "against everyone" in the ballot.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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