Deputies fight for seats

Since 1990 Armenia has elected four parliaments and four-times voted for presidents. Including referendums, Armenians have gone to the polls an average of about every 18 months since voting to become an independent republic. But more immediately – this week . . .

FOR “COMMON HEADQUARTERS”

The Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) has proposed to all opposition forces of the country to establish common headquarters ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, the party’s leader Aram Sargsyan told a press conference on Wednesday. According to him, this move is a major factor in the run-up to the elections as in that case the opposition will act as a “single team” struggling for the fairness and transparency of the elections.

“HEAVY BLOW”

“I want Minister of Defense Serzh Sargsyan to suffer a heavy blow,” Armenia’s former prime minister, leader of the National-Democratic Union (NDU) Vazgen Manukyan said on March 20. He reminded that in the town of Goris in Armenia’s Syunik region, the defense minister’s brother Alexander Sargsyan is seeking a seat in parliament running against the leader of the Dashink party, Samvel Babayan, whom the NDU leader is going to support during the parliamentary elections on May 12. At the same time, the ex-premier stated that the role of Serzh Sargsyan in the current authorities was great, besides he is going to run for president. “I am categorically against Serzh Sargsyan becoming the president of Armenia, because it will be very bad for the country,” he said.

LAST TIME?

This week’s four-day session was the last in the work of the current National Assembly. Usually more than 20 deputies sign in for the speech hour on the second day of sessions. Only five did so this time around. Arshak Sadoyan was late, but he got access to the tribune on March 20. From the tribune he spoke about the need to control the transparency of the elections. Probably for the last time addressing “dear radio listeners”. The thing is that the “Democratic Path” party on whose slate Sadoyan is running for parliament has little chance to appear in parliament despite the fact that its top three members are politicians well known to the public: Manuk Gasparyan, Arshak Sadoyan and Aghasi Arshakyan. Only several people are present in the parliament hall. Sadoyan spoke last, with hardly no one listening. It is difficult to imagine an Armenian parliament without Sadoyan. Although he hasn’t written a single law for the whole duration of his presence in the National Assembly, he can hardly be reproached for that. Sadoyan is a representative of the “public rally” generation.

VANADZOR INTRIGUE

It is very difficult to determine the top contender in constituency No. 30 in Vanadzor where the main candidates and rivals for a parliament seat are current MPs Viktor Dallakyan and Vahram Baghdasaryan. Both enjoy the support of influential political circles. Dallakyan’s method of campaigning is simple: on the air of the local TV company, Lori, he demonstrates video records of his speeches in parliament. Dallakyan’s method is practically unique, based on the full and detailed accountability of a deputy before his constituency. During his activities as MP in 1995 to 2007 he has made 301 speeches on different topics, has authored 1,275 written proposals on draft legislation, 70 percent of those proposals were considered in the final reading of the laws. He has addressed 60 questions to the government, read out 65 statements from the parliament tribune. In the period from 1995 to 2007, the parliament has adopted 69 laws authored by Dallakyan. Not a single deputy can boast such individual statistics. Dallakyan’s rival does not idle either. He is getting active support from public and compatriotic organizations. Baghdasaryan is a very influential person, but no one can tip him winner for sure. Dallakyan and Baghdasaryan are representatives of the post-revolutionary and more professional generation of deputies.