ARMENIAN YOUTH SEES ITS POLITICAL “PROGRESS” MAINLY OUTSIDE OF PARTIES
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Only 30 of more than 80 parties acting in
Armenia have youth wings or permanently acting youth structures. Their
majority does not promote a regular, organized party activity. The
parties of the ruling coalition, the United Labor Party, the Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law) opposition party, the National Unity, the
People’s Party of Armenia, the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party, the
Democratic Liberal Union of Armenia, the People’s Party have more or
less actively working youth wings and structures.
Parallelly, there are some parties in Armenia (the Youth Party of
Armenia, the Progressive Party of Armenia, the Ardarutiun (Justice)
party), the majority of the members of which are young people. As
it was mentioned in the report provided to Noyan Tapan from the
Information Analyses and Programs Elaboration Department of Center
for Organization of Youth Events of RA Ministry of Culture and Youth
Affairs, young people see their political “progress,” satisfaction of
their political requirements mainly outside of parties. Mass surveys
conducted within the framework of the youth national report show
that only 3.6% of youth is a member of any party and only 5% trusts
any party. According to the results of the surveys conducted within
the framework of the youth national report, the participation of the
youth in mass actions of protest, rallies and processions is extremely
low. Only 11% of youth has participated in rallies and other actions
of protest and their 88% does not at all accept this way of political
participation considering it non-efficient or just an adventure.