Poverty on the Rise, So Too the Rich: Debate

If the government can’t disclose the shadow (economy), then it clearly doesn’t want to, so it should simply step down, said Heritage Party MP Larisa Alaverdyan, speaking to reporters in the Armenian capital today. The more poverty increases in Armenia, she said, the more the number of rich people among the ruling elite increases.

Also present at today’s press conference was Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) MP Rafik Petrosyan, who said the current state of the budget was realistic.

“The government has assumed an obligation of 101 billion drams [$262.7 million USD], and during its execution we will see that in 2012 we will be able to pass this indicator, recording a 4.2% growth in the budget. The opposition’s view that the budget is small and doesn’t satisfy the requirements of the population doesn’t increase the population’s standard of living. Of course, it’s very easy to talk, to criticize, which helps it work better, supports the budget increase,” said Petrosyan.

According to the opposition MP, however, the government today doesn’t allow the opposition to have control when it comes to the budget.

“When you listen to members of government you can assume that they represent a club of geniuses; they clearly show their genius ideas, but this government that expresses genius ideas still hasn’t carried out any of the programs it promised,” said Alaverdyan.

In response to a question on not fulfilling pre-election promises, the HHK MP urged people not to forget the 2008 economic crisis, as a result of which Armenia suffered the most, he said.

Alaverdyan retorted: “The government anticipated that in 2012, the poverty indicator in Armenia was to go down, but the fact is that instead of the previous 11.2% indicator decreasing, in recent years it’s reached 34%; meanwhile, the government asserts that there’s been a 4.2% economic growth. Armenia’s governing system is in a deep ethical, economic and financial crisis. For 20 years, the authorities have laid the groundwork and continue the ideas of the ‘oligarchapoly’. Economic growth is characterized not by numbers but by the quality of the growth.”

According to the Heritage Party MP, countries that have aimed to strengthen the country began with the border villages.

“As long as our remote villages have a limited number of problems, as long as the villager fighting with her gun and sickle is deprived of god’s gift of water, and not having the possibility of using gas, burns manure to keep warm, [a practice] that in recent years has also gained momentum in the capital, there cannot be any talk of economic growth,” she said.