DEBATE ABOUT GOOD AND BAD OLIGARCHS: NOT ONLY RICH MEN IN REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA
Tert
Nov 9 2009
Armenia
Those oligarchs were chosen; we have nothing to do in that parliament,
said Leader of People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan during a debate
with ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Lernik Alexanyan
today. He blamed RPA for collecting all the rich people under its roof
and then added that RPA, as well as the Armenian National Assembly,
is a parliament of feudal lords.
"There are also good oligarchs," said Alexanyan, in retort, adding
that there are rich people, for example, in all the parties. In
protecting his party, Alexanyan stated not only rich people are
included in RPA, there are also poor people, and when the journalists
asked surprisingly, "Who is poor?", Alexanyan responded by saying,
"Me, for example." His answer, understandably, brought about laughter.
The debate over "good and bad oligarchs" arose when the elections which
are to take place in several electoral districts were touched upon.
Karapetyan said a real competition could take place at least at N10
electoral district, if Nikol Pashinyan was registered as a candidate,
but, in general, there will be violations and bribery in this election,
too. The governing party representative didn’t agree that election
bribery takes place in Armenia. In any case, that violation, in
Alexanyan’s opinion, doesn’t affect election results.
By the way, Alexanyan said that the Republican Party of Armenia still
hasn’t discussed which candidate it will support at which electoral
district.