Tuesday, 26 November 2024

E Editorial

Between the old and new monsters

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After the 2017 parliamentary elections, it was obvious to some that a parliament with similar composition would not be accepted by people from all walks of life in Armenia. As life showed, it is entirely other question how further developments might progress. Two possible scenarios were anticipated to occur: "force majeure" or alienation of public from political processes.

Eventually, “force majeure" occurred.  Hundreds of thousands of citizens failed to vote in 2018 elections, apparently considering that the eligible candidates were not worthy to be elected. However, the vast majority of those who voted, being manipulated and guided by populism, elected a unipolar parliament.

In line with a well-known Chinese myth, the winner of the "monster" gets everything until he becomes the new "monster" in the next stage. According to Chinese myth, the "monster" is the government which is endowed with unlimited powers and is out of control. In 2018, the winner of "monster" got everything and, first of all, acquired unlimited power, which it did not know how to deal with. Now we are faced with the next, but repetitive scenario of the Chinese proverb: we will either have a new “monster,” defeating the old one who will get everything, or the old one will be able to reproduce, but remain wounded and unviable, and will lead to new shocks in political life.

It seems that in all cases there is no light at the end of the tunnel. In general, countries with a parliamentary system of government do not strike out with stability. The most vivid manifestations of such countries are Italy and Israel, whose peoples similar to the Armenians, are hot-tempered.

If we accept that the course of our thoughts is right, we have to come to a very sad conclusion. That is, after the June elections, we will again face to have an interim parliament, which in any case, will not be considered its own by the public, and the very next day of the elections we will start preparing for the next parliamentary elections. And it is not clear yet how fast the wheel of permanent snap elections will turn.

The "monster killer" has apparently not yet applied for another notable mission after completing its mission. And if it does not work, the "hero" will fail, the failed cannot remain on the pedestal of a hero. However, in that case, the current "monster" will be unable to restore his good reputation, to be rehabilitated, because doubts and the bitterness of defeat will gnaw at the souls of the members of public.

It seems that this is a possible scenario for future political developments, unless, of course, something extraordinary happens.

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies

Yerznkian 75, 0033
Yerevan, Armenia

Tel.:

+374 10 528780 / 274818

Website:

www.acnis.am

  

The views of the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the Center.

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