Epress.am News from Armenia
Yesterday’s incident of lawmakers voting for others in Armenia’s National Assembly wasn’t the first — there have been other preposterous atrocities, said Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, or ARF-D) MP Vahan Hovhannisyan, speaking to reporters in the capital today.
Recall, Heritage Party MP Larisa Alaverdyan on Thursday drew attention to the fact that there were fewer deputies in the room than those who voted in favor of a law on emergency rule, implying that lawmakers were casting votes for their colleagues who were absent.
“This means that the ruling political power is really not a power, but a power forced by strength — it is able neither to convince nor to place its words as truth. It is even unable to organize its own faction’s voting; a vivid example of this occurred several days ago when one of the coalition parties left the room [referring to Prosperous Armenia lawmakers who boycotted the assembly, as a result of which the Republican Party of Armenia was unable to pass a bill into law]. Having the absolute majority, the Republican Party of Armenia is unable to pass a law. This isn’t a new phenomena, but perhaps could overcome its own feebleness. Pressing a button for someone else describes not only the button-pushers, but also their faction — this speaks of the entire political system.
“If you have a disregard for and can bypass the law in order to achieve your goal, then why should I believe that you, despite all your promises, will hold democratic elections in Armenia?” asked Hovhannisyan.
If the sole purpose of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and its leaders is to remain in power, the Dashnaktsutyun MP continued, and to pass even but a single law they value their goal more highly than the country’s, the parliament’s and their dignity, and if they are adopting such measures to achieve this goal then they will always do so.