Zaruhi Postanjyan: Shocks are becoming inevitable (video)
What caused the seizure of a Yerevan police station by the Sasna Dzrer (Daredevils of Sasoun) group and what conclusions can we draw from it? Zaruhi Postanjyan, a member of the Heritage faction in parliament, has traveled to marzes to talk to citizens about future steps. She has also been in the Armenian Diaspora. “The meetings were held without obstacles, except for Nor Hachn, where the local authorities refused to allocate us a hall for a meeting. People are waiting for clear actions. On September 21, I published a declaration to restore independence and we need to agree our future steps with the document,” Zaruhi Postanjyan said during the special sitting of the A National Assembly convened at the initiative of the government. She is skeptical of the parliamentary elections to be held in April 2017. “All criminal and oligarchic elements, who do not want to change the political model, will be re-elected in April.” Zaruhi Postanjyan says people frequently ask her for her opinion about the new prime minister. “The system has not changed and the change of the names can hardly matter here,” she said. The lawmaker cited the words of Daron Acemoğlu (a Turkish-born economist of Armenian origin), who said economic success precedes political changes. “The change of the political model starts with a free choice. There are administrative and economic levers which are used [by authorities] to ensure their reproduction. Shocks are becoming inevitable,” she said. What practical steps can be taken in this direction? “We should try to use the potential of all Armenians. We should involve all Armenians in the process while the authorities have restricted their participation saying only the people who live in Armenia can participate in elections.” She says under the new system polling stations should be opened across the world in all countries that are inhabited with Armenians. Speaking about the electoral system, Postanjyan said the presidential institute has been abolished in the country and we can expect political changes every five years but we need not pin great hopes on that single day. “I do not exclude concrete actions until by then. We are also preparing for the 2017 parliamentary elections as we expect an attack on us on the election day,” she said. The lawmaker says Armenia is vulnerable today because of the friendly relations between Russia and Turkey. “After the four-day war in April we were to start from a new page, but today we are talking about possible territorial concessions.”
