After the tragic end of the 44-day war, the internal political uprisings taking place in the country, regardless of their characteristics, participants and leaders, have two main similarities. firstly, they do not achieve their main goals, and secondly, as a result, they lead to pointless speculations of the "put the mandates" thesis in the public sphere.
It is a well-known fact that I myself was against the participation of the opposition in general and the RPA in particular in the 2021 special elections.
Moreover, after being demobilized 2 months after the war, I personally asked Serzh Sargsyan, the third president of the Republic of Armenia, not to propose me to run for the emergency appointment already mentioned at that time. Therefore, at the current stage, I am more than objective and unbiased in the discussions about putting down the mandates.
Let me say from the very beginning that the main developments following the 2021 elections only strengthen the view that those elections were necessary for everyone, except the Armenian people, and participating in them was a wrong decision. Let the NA opposition factions, including my friends, not be upset with me, their activity in today's legislature also does not meet the basic expectations of the public sphere (I said it mildly, because this is a separate complex conversation).
However, in spite of all this, I must directly and firmly state that this time again the discussions of the opposition's putting down the mandates, even if they are realized, will not bring us even half a step closer to the main goal of our struggle, to prevent the continued destruction of Armenian statehood through a change of power.
Let's turn to the main justifications of that proposal in the field.
1. "Renunciation of mandates by the opposition will cause a constitutional crisis."
This argument has nothing to do with the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, and many knowledgeable lawyers have repeatedly addressed this issue. Unfortunately, even formally "unopposed" parliament will remain an operating institution of the constitutional legal system. Refusal of mandates will not cause a constitutional crisis. It is sad, but a fact.
2. "Abolishing the mandates will lead to a political crisis."
Alas, this reasoning is as naive as the self-delusion that still exists among some people that "Nicole did not want, did not understand, did not choose" and brought us to this national disaster. First of all, Armenia is already in an intractable political crisis, which started in 2018 and became open in 2020, and this is absolutely not the feijoa of the Pashinyan regime. They continue to persistently implement the plan for which they were brought to power by the hands of the naive people, but with the patronage of shadow puppet masters.
3. "The international community will see and take action."
I don't even know if this is a more naive expectation or the previous one. If you don't know, let me say harshly. The West will forgive, tolerate and turn a blind eye to any internal political illegality, disgrace, scandal, as it does to this day, ignoring police brutality, oppression of the opposition, flourishing corruption, puppet courts, presence of political prisoners and many other outrageous problems. Therefore, I am sorry to say that both the EU and the USA have deeply and comprehensively covered the immediate reality of Nikol's Lukashenkoization.
4. "One thing, there is no benefit from this National Assembly, let them leave and leave."
This point of view, as I already said, can be discussed in its first part. yes, even in the current situation, the expectations from the parliamentary opposition can be higher. Moreover, I am sure that among them there are unique elements obsessed with individual play and collaborationists.
Let me be more honest. I am also sure that in the pre-election lists of the two opposition blocs, there will not be a few people who will take the mandates they have given up when it is their turn, and will gladly join the Pashinyan majority.
Let's also not forget that the opposition factions also have the right to participate in the formation of election commissions to a certain level, which, regardless of the participation of these forces in any elections, is a certain control tool.
These were the main arguments of the advocates of the idea of putting down the mandates of the opposition.
By the way, those advocates are not homogeneous either. among them, next to honest, clean, but naive people, there are already several times "beaten foxes", whose motives are far from being sincere or patriotic and are determined by narrow personal interest or the fact of being a latent Nicolaitan.
P.S. Let me say this, regardless of who will be offended. the intensifying talks about putting down the mandates are one of the symptoms of the failure of another opposition movement (life has shown it). Therefore, take a stand, please. Either we continue to mumble the topic of mandates, or the movement has not died out...
Armen Ashotyan
Vice President of RPA
"Dzoraghbyur" TSC
10.10.2024
