POPULIST “INTRIGUES” IN THE PARLIAMENT
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[02:34 pm] 13 April, 2006
Today the NA was full of the “legislative branch representative.” The
Republican Party “gathered” all its deputies. Even Levon Sargsyan
(“the flouring – mill Ljovik”) and Samvel Aleksanyan (“Lfik Samo”)
were present.
On the whole, the Parliament was ready to put “the program of 2001
– 2003 privatization revenue” to the vote but before carrying the
ballot the Chairman of the Dashnaktsutyun Party Levon Lazarian and
the Vice-Deputy of the “Justice” Fraction Victor Dallakyan made
interpreting speeches on it. Levon Lazarian explained that they
were against the 2001 – 2003 privatization revenue and now they don’t
vote the program of 2001 – 2003 privatization but the privatization
procedure from January 1 to December 31 of the year 2004. He informed
that they approved of it.
Victor Dallakyan said that people who don’t approve of the program
must not vote so that the bill will not be passed and then he
asked for a 20 – minute break. The deputies “overcame the 20 –
minute test” and finally carried a vote on “the program of 2001 –
2003 privatization.” After the break, before carrying the ballot the
member of the ND Fraction Hakob Hakobyan made a speech and addressed
to the NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan, “We have spoken about robbery
for 2 days and criticized it but as Victor Dallakyan mentioned “if we
vote against, the bill will pass. How can people know whether it is
all formality or not? Which will be you next step? Will you organize
a hunger-strike or a protest?” Arthur Bagdasaryan answered that it
was a position of principle, they will say “no” to the privatization
program and they have already taken measures for the further prevention
of the privatization procedure.
Anyway, the bill passed with 65 “pros,” 10 “cons” and 10
“abstentions.” Only the Opposition did not participate in the
ballot. The 2005 – 2007 privatization program was also confirmed with
80 “pros,” 0 “cons” and 5 “abstentions.” After the voting the hall
became empty within 3 minutes. The NA continued its current work.
The Vice-Deputy of the “Justice” Fraction Victor Dallakyan commented
on the events of the Parliament in the following way, “If any of the
Coalition representatives is against the Government policy it must
raise the question of no-confidence and the vice versa. In developed
countries the Government would arouse the question of Government’s
confidence in case the party led by the Parliament Speaker behaved
like this. Neither of them occurred. Thus, the next populist step
was made in the Parliament.”
By the way, the balloting had a rather interesting result. For
instance, the member of “National Conciliation” Party Haroutyun
Muradyan approved of the privatization revenue program. The Deputies of
Orinats Yerkir, despite Arthur Baghdasaryan’s calls to vote against
the program, voted in its favour; let us mention Artak Sargsyan
(the owner of “Sas” supermarket).