Tweet
Serzh Sargsyan Kindles Fire
HAKOB BADALYAN
Thursday, 14 February 2013, 13:03
Serzh Sargsyan has kindled a political fire with his election speech
on February 13 in Gegharkunik Marz. He urged people in Vardenis to be
active on the voting day otherwise their votes will be stolen. It is
not news that votes are stolen in Armenia. But the interesting thing
is who, according to Serzh Sargsyan, is going to steal the votes.
Refraining from detiails, Serzh Sargsyan said: `[...] your silence will
be filled with the votes of those who have been trying for years to
render Armenia a marsh, not to change anything for their group or
personal interests. The votes of those who have been ignoring your
vote, stealing your future and doing everything to rule out that the
vote is yours and the elect is yours. Those who are used to buying
everything they want, those who are ready to grab what they cannot
buy, and those who earn their daily bread defending the interests of
the aforementioned people. All those who are used to giving up and
grabbing, being humiliated and humiliating, those who want to direct
everyone's actions and decide everything for others. Only you, dear
citizens, only you can break this vicious chain,' Sargsyan said in
Vardenis. Though he did not mention anyone, his description is quite
transparent and interesting. It is obvious that Serzh Sargsyan does
not mean his main competitors. It would be difficult to believe Paruir
Hayrikyan, Raffi Hovannisian or Hrant Bagratyan will grab others'
votes or that they have ever stolen anything, humiliated anyone, etc.
In other words, Serzh Sargsyan does not mean those who are running for
president now. Consequently, others who are not running in the
election are supposed to seize votes. But Serzh Sargsyan tries to hint
that as a political process the presidential election is broader than
the electoral process. He expects help from the citizens hinting that
there are two options. Either citizens vote for him or the ruling
system rigs the elections in his favor and the dictatorial atmosphere
is sustained in the country. At least his sincerity is worth respect
because Serzh Sargsyan really needs to be elected by means of real and
not force voting. It is clear that the compulsory and invented votes
will be assured by means of the criminal oligarchic resource so the
latter will have more arguments during forming government after the
election, ahead of 2017-18. At the same time, Serzh Sargsyan has made
clear commitments in return for international legitimacy. During his
first term, the international community was very patient and
concessive but the possible second term will be different. The West
will never break relations but it may create unpleasant situations for
Serzh Sargsyan. Consequently, in the second term Serzh Sargsyan will
undergo more pressure to fulfill his commitments regarding reforms
since the international community points to specific names demanding
to get rid of them. But if these people do a favor to Serzh Sargsyan
and help him get elected he cannot but compensate them. At the same
time, during the last five years citizens have seen nothing but
cosmetic steps so they are not sure whether their cooperation with
Serzh Sargsyan will last, or the latter will use and forget them for
his personal interests. In other words, Serzh Sargsyan's image of a
reformer is not convincing, and he is weak ahead of the elections. The
citizens do not care for the political or geopolitical nuances of the
situation. They care for their life. Surely, there can be decisive
moments when citizens should be interested in other issues but the
current situation in Armenia is different. It is obvious that the
Armenian society is not ready for such situations just because the
government has never tried to prepare the society.
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28925
HAKOB BADALYAN
Thursday, 14 February 2013, 13:03
Serzh Sargsyan has kindled a political fire with his election speech
on February 13 in Gegharkunik Marz. He urged people in Vardenis to be
active on the voting day otherwise their votes will be stolen. It is
not news that votes are stolen in Armenia. But the interesting thing
is who, according to Serzh Sargsyan, is going to steal the votes.
Refraining from detiails, Serzh Sargsyan said: `[...] your silence will
be filled with the votes of those who have been trying for years to
render Armenia a marsh, not to change anything for their group or
personal interests. The votes of those who have been ignoring your
vote, stealing your future and doing everything to rule out that the
vote is yours and the elect is yours. Those who are used to buying
everything they want, those who are ready to grab what they cannot
buy, and those who earn their daily bread defending the interests of
the aforementioned people. All those who are used to giving up and
grabbing, being humiliated and humiliating, those who want to direct
everyone's actions and decide everything for others. Only you, dear
citizens, only you can break this vicious chain,' Sargsyan said in
Vardenis. Though he did not mention anyone, his description is quite
transparent and interesting. It is obvious that Serzh Sargsyan does
not mean his main competitors. It would be difficult to believe Paruir
Hayrikyan, Raffi Hovannisian or Hrant Bagratyan will grab others'
votes or that they have ever stolen anything, humiliated anyone, etc.
In other words, Serzh Sargsyan does not mean those who are running for
president now. Consequently, others who are not running in the
election are supposed to seize votes. But Serzh Sargsyan tries to hint
that as a political process the presidential election is broader than
the electoral process. He expects help from the citizens hinting that
there are two options. Either citizens vote for him or the ruling
system rigs the elections in his favor and the dictatorial atmosphere
is sustained in the country. At least his sincerity is worth respect
because Serzh Sargsyan really needs to be elected by means of real and
not force voting. It is clear that the compulsory and invented votes
will be assured by means of the criminal oligarchic resource so the
latter will have more arguments during forming government after the
election, ahead of 2017-18. At the same time, Serzh Sargsyan has made
clear commitments in return for international legitimacy. During his
first term, the international community was very patient and
concessive but the possible second term will be different. The West
will never break relations but it may create unpleasant situations for
Serzh Sargsyan. Consequently, in the second term Serzh Sargsyan will
undergo more pressure to fulfill his commitments regarding reforms
since the international community points to specific names demanding
to get rid of them. But if these people do a favor to Serzh Sargsyan
and help him get elected he cannot but compensate them. At the same
time, during the last five years citizens have seen nothing but
cosmetic steps so they are not sure whether their cooperation with
Serzh Sargsyan will last, or the latter will use and forget them for
his personal interests. In other words, Serzh Sargsyan's image of a
reformer is not convincing, and he is weak ahead of the elections. The
citizens do not care for the political or geopolitical nuances of the
situation. They care for their life. Surely, there can be decisive
moments when citizens should be interested in other issues but the
current situation in Armenia is different. It is obvious that the
Armenian society is not ready for such situations just because the
government has never tried to prepare the society.
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28925