THOSE UNITED UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE COALITION’S LOVE
Ara Galoyan

March 20, 2010

"The government consists of a prime minister and ministers," reads
the constitution of Armenia. It is defining the provision but does
not explain why. Instead of that the fifth clause of the Constitution
explains the policies of the government. It is written well but there
is no need to read as they have nothing to do with the reality. For
example, in the fourth clause of the 55th article of the Constitution
it is written that "the president appoints and dismisses the members
of the government based on the recommendation of the prime minister."

It means that according to the existing laws the PM has a large scope
of rights and powers. The PM has recommended a government consisting of
18 ministers and is organizing a session every month with participation
of these people and they call it a "government session".

They discuss domestic and other issues of foreign policy at such
sessions. All they try to overcome the impact of the world crisis. But
the real picture is quite different and very strange though. For
example, two months ago the PM came to work in the morning and
was informed that there had been changes in the government and the
Prosperous Armenia party had nominated a candidate to replace one
of their ministers. The PM agreed with that change and continued to
handle the important issues of the state with this new staff. However,
the change that happened two days ago cannot be logical at all. The
Legal State party replaced two of its ministers. They said that this
issue had been agreed with the president as they are a political team
and it is important for them to agree the nomination of new people in
high rank positions with the president. It is a brilliant idea. There
is no word about the policy established by the Constitution and the
role of the prime minister. Even more, it seems that the president’s
consent is just a formal detail for them as well. It is important
for them but not decisive. Now let’s imagine that they may take out
a piece of paper and put a stamp on it, give to t someone and say
that hence he can be the minister of transport but it is important to
get the president’s consent first. It is not serious to demand more
from this government which is working in such conditions, or more
literally said at such level of political culture. The government
develops projects as a group of managers or a political body. Later
the ministers go to ministries, make a timeline, schedule, work
distribution and give orders to their staff. But the next day the
minister’s party is sending someone else to work in the same position.

The only thing the prime minister should do now is to introduce these
new guys to the government and then take their hand and take to the
ministries to introduce to the staff of the ministries. The PM does
not even have a right to reprimand the ministers because this minister
may go back to the party and organize a press conference and say that
he is not going to resign because he is accountable to his party only.

Their own and beloved party backs them, as it was done with the
minister of agriculture. Based on the processes of the last days
it is not hard to assume that the government is not a united body of
managers or politicians. The minister of economy tried to announce that
the economic crisis was up to ending. One of the coalition leaders
openly said that he did not agree with this announcement and made
some remark. "We are advising that Gagik Tsarukyan gives estimation
to the PA member ministers." There were other remarks as well. The
prime minister tried to make them come down and said that there are
shortcomings in all ministries. In fact he sees these shortcomings
but does not have an opportunity to overcome those shortcomings. In
consideration of the fact that the prime minister is working in such
hard conditions of the coalition, we should give a break for one
month and keep from criticizing him during this month.