PREMIER JOINS RPA "FAMILY"
news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan joining the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA) headed by RA President Serzh Sargsyan was a surprise,
but natural move.
The authorities have actually embarked on a program of strengthening
control over the country’s political life and economic policy. On
the other hand, the ruling party shouldered the responsibility for
an internally rather contradictory anti-crisis program of the RA
Government. As regards the efforts to "neutralize" the consequences
of the global economic crisis exerted by the recently "unaffiliated"
Premier, one could hardly designate them as effective. At the end of
this year, Armenia is faced with a drastic fall in the key economic
indicators. The Premier’s optimistic statements about ambitious
projects supposed to cause Armenia to rank among the states with
"innovation economic models" gave way to the alarming reports by the
RA Statistical Service and comments on the progressively increasing
foreign debt. One can hardly fail to notice that the radical Opposition
is now basing its criticism on the socio-economic conditions in the
country. Under the circumstances the Armenian Premier received his
"party baptism."
So the RPA assumes the responsibility for the Government’s economic
policy and further decisions. On the other hand, Premier Tigran
Sargsyan will not henceforth be viewed as an independent political
figure, who, under certain conditions, would be capable of acting as
an "autonomous pole." Thus, all the forecasts that, in the future
elections, the Armenian Premier might lead the Armenakan-Ramkavar
Azatakan Party, have become absolutely pointless. This political
project, which elicited numerous comments, with most of them
being critical ones, has persistently been linked with the name of
the Premier’s name and intention to form a national coalition to
counterbalance the influence of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF).
Losing "freedom" was obviously the Premier’s "forced choice" aimed to
"cover his bases" in meeting the major economic challenges facing the
Armenian Government. No doubt, this year has been a year of crisis,
with next year to be a year of aftermath.
Even the RPA may view Tigran Sargsyan as a politician, who, amid
the growing domestic political instability, is capable of playing
a different role. So it may soon recall him from the post of Prime
Minister and delegate different powers to him. The second option is
more realistic. The RPA is well aware of the fact that the Premier has
turned into a "perfect sitting target" for not only the Opposition,
but also the competing pro-government camps. So the party is applying
"protection mechanisms" to its "fledgling" member.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
