THE PHENOMENON OF A "LAME DUCK" DOESN’T WORK IN ARMENIA
Karen Nahapetyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
March 21, 2008

As we know quite a few days are left for the solemn ceremony of
inauguration, which will take place on April 9. For the first time
the President, who has worked in his position during the whole term
envisaged by the Constitution, will hand over the power to the new
leader of the state.

By the way the tradition of inauguration originates from the
USA, during the years of power of the First US President George
Washington. After taking up the post in 1789 in New York he uttered
the words "May God Help Me" and these words became obligatory during
the American ceremonies.

The high-ranking officials who are going to resign, but they haven’t
yet given up their job according to American traditions are called
"lame ducks". In this situation, as a rule, the high-ranking official
can’t take important decisions.

This happens, for example in the UN Senate and the Congress. They even
call the session convened after the elections as the session of "lame
ducks", because those who have lost the elections and consequently
don’t represent the interests of their voters participate in this
session. That is why, as a rule the session of the "lame ducks"
doesn’t take pivotal decisions.

The President at the end the second term of office is also called a
"lame duck". As a rule according to the world practice his surrounding
paves a way for the future President, establishing guarantees for
their future well-being. Very often in this transitional period
the companions-in-arms betray their leaders, open the eyes of the
society towards the "unpleasant facts" of the latter’s activity,
demonstratively leave their posts, sign secret agreements in his rear.

This happens in the USA, for example, when the political weight of
the President decreases at the end of his term of office and at the
end of the campaign, when the name of the favorite becomes known,
the President is considered a pensioner. George Bush is a typical
"lame duck" that is why during the recent years several Ministers,
assistants and advisers, voluntarily resigned.

It is not accidental that at this stage a series of scandals broke
out among Bush’s kinsmen.

To avoid turning into a "lame duck" the political figures have
to take strange steps. For example during the elections that were
hold recently in Argentina the President in power who enjoys great
democracy Nestor Kirshner, was not nominated for the second term,
he gave his place to his wife Kristina Fernandez who won a great
victory due to her husband’s success.

In our view by means of creating tension and leading to clashes L.

Ter-Petrosyan was based on the effect of the "lame duck". In a country
as ours, the phenomenon of a "lame duck" President means danger for
both the system and the society, because there are no mechanisms, which
can guarantee balance in the ship during the shift of the captain.

Ter-Petrosyan was evidently anticipating that Robert Kocharyan
would refrain from establishing rule and order in the capital by
force, because "simply he didn’t need that". Which means he would be
indifferent to the fate of the people, which Levon Ter-Petrosyan did
in 1988.

But Robert Kocharyan didn’t turn into a "lame duck". He shouldered
the responsibly in the decisive moment and he continued to lead
the country in this transitional period, trying to protect it from
chaotic situations.

For the officials loyalty is an instable phenomenon. As a rule they
are loyal to the leader in power. When the leader resigns the object
of their devotion changes. But the state machinery, didn’t concentrate
on their own interests during the recent months.

Thus the phenomenon of the "lame duck" didn’t work in Armenia, which
helped the country avoid worse concussions.