OPPOSITION IS NON-LICENSED ACTIVITY

Lragir.am
23 May 06

“I congratulate Arthur Baghdasaryan on the final establishment of
the Orinats Yerkir Party,” said the leader of the Ramkavar Party of
Armenia (Liberal Democratic Party of Armenia) Harutiun Arakelyan May
23, assessing the recent developments related with the coalition and
the Orinats Yerkir Party.

The Ramkavars say Orinats Yerkir made a political decision. The members
of parliament who left the party for the mandate and their businesses
also made a political decision. The leader of the Ramkavar Party does
not share the joy of certain members of parliament, for they also
have entrepreneur members of parliament. Harutiun Arakelyan relies
on his experience as a person who witnessed rats in politics.

“In 1993-1994 the same happened in our political party. Members of
parliament tended to affiliate with the Ramkavar Party; well, they had
heard about the Diaspora, a rich political party, etc. Later they left,
however. The new bureau of the political party has changed its style
of work to prevent this from reoccurring,” said Harutiun Arakelyan.

The Ramkavar Party has worked out with the Hzor Hayrenik Party 100
amendments to the electoral legislation to reduce and eliminate the
influence of economic factors and businessmen on political processes.

“We especially underline two: application of the proportional system of
vote and lifting of the immunity of members of parliament.” According
to Harutiun Arakelyan, the latter will make the mandate of a member
of parliament less attractive for a businessman. “They will leave
the National Assembly alone. The National Assembly has deviated from
its main function – the National Assembly is a place where laws are
made.” For the opposition, it is neither a place, nor a geographical
location, and Harutiun Arakelyan says it is funny when Orinats Yerkir’s
affiliation with the opposition is met with slings and arrows.

“Opposition is a stance. Some oppositionists have assumed a status
as if they are supposed to get a license for being opposition.

We do not need anybody’s permission for our opposition stance.”

The Ramkavar Party will stand for elections in 2007 and 2008. It will
act seriously. The question of candidates and alliances with other
political forces will be decided in the extraordinary congress of
the political party in February 2007.