Great public demand for Opposition in Armenia – Hranush Kharatyan

22:30 * 27.02.15

There is a great public demand for the Opposition in Armenia, and two
or three groups can bid for the role of the main opposition force –
Heritage party, MP Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Union and Preparliament,
ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan told Tert.am.

As to the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party, she cannot say if it
has the necessary potential.

“I am more inclined to believe that the three groups will decide in
favor of unification rather than competition,” Ms Kharatyan said.

As regards the Prosperous Armenia party, she noted that it is serving
the three forces and has elements of different formats at the serving
of the three forces.

“On the one hand, it is serving the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA). On the other hand, it is at the service of [ANC leader] Levon
Ter-Petrosyan and [Armenia’s second president] Robert Kocharyan. I am
inclined to think that the RPA will absorb the Prosperous Armenia
party,” Ms Kharatyan said.

She is among the people that think that Prosperous Armenia party
leader Gagik Tsarukyan has suspended his political activities, which
was called “evil” by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

“I do not think Mr Tsarukyan will return to politics until it is clear
which force is the real leader of Armenia’s politics.”

Ms Kharatyan does not rule anything, including Mr Tsarukyan’s return
to politics and Mr Kocharyan’s ability to turn the Prosperous Armenia
party into support for him.

“And this group has to enable Kocharyan to ensure conditions for his
strong positions and return to politics. This is a difficult task to
arrange the Prosperous Armenia party’s remnants in such a way as to
enable it to continue playing its role, and I do not rule it out,” Ms
Kharatyan said.

The Prosperous Armenia party once claimed to have 500,000 members.

Political experts have lately voiced the opinion that individual
“opposition segments” are seeking to win over the Prosperous Armenia
party voters.

According to Ms Kharatyan, this fact accounts for Head of the Rule of
Law party Heghine Bisharyan’s eloquent statements.

“I am sure that the Prosperous Armenia party both individually and as
Prosperous Armenia-RPA group will be absorbed by the RPA. On the other
hand, I do not rule out that with Kocharyan’s underhanded sponsorship
will try to retain a certain degree of independence.”

Ms Kharatyan does not think the recent domestic political developments
created a vacuum in terms of opposition forces.

“We are going to see how strong the three non-coalition forces were as
the Opposition rather than as forces seeking a change of power. They
do not make any proposals except for a change of individuals in
power.”

The Prosperous Armenia party formed an essential part of Armenia’s
ruling circles.

“It was due to the Prosperous Armenia party MPs that numerous
anti-Armenian decisions were approved, which had nothing in common
with opposition ideologies. Yes, it was with the Prosperous Armenia
party’s strong support that the main proposals by the ruling circles
were pushed through Parliament. It is common knowledge,” Ms Kharatyan
said.

According to her, the three non-coalition forces were formally
opposition forces, without being such in essence.

“It was admitted reality and the latest ‘mass rallies’ invited by the
three forces were commented on with irony – they brought people only
to show figures, not to express opinions of certain sections of the
country’s population.