Expression of vulgar socialism: Vahagn Khachatryan on statement of SRC Head (video)
The state has no right to have a share in a business, economist Vahagn Khachatryan said on November 8 commenting on the latest statement of the head of the State Revenue Committee (SRC). “Yesterday, he [the SRC head] announced that the state has a share in every business and the tax body represents the state in the deal. This is a very dangerous phenomenon, an expression of vulgar socialism,” the member of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) said viewing it an attempt to undermine the inviolability of private business. “In fact, the new members of the Armenian government represent business circles. Now, they have begun to view business with the eyes of a state official which is really disturbing,” Mr. Khachatryan said. Speaking about the draft budget for 2017, the economist said it has regressed as compared with 2016. “It yields to the budget of 2016 in all parameters; first of all I am speaking about macroeconomic indicators,” Mr. Khachatryan said. He says Armenia’s debt is closing to 6 billion and we have to take new loans to pay off the old ones. “We have reached an impasse. We behave as a poor debtor who always takes money and cannot redeem his debts. He puts up his home and car for collateral and has nothing left.” With regard to the planned cuts in gas and electricity prices, Vahagn Khachatryan said the move is politically motivated. “They [authorities] are trying to show people that they are doing something before the election,” the economist said in conclusion.
