SUMMING UP THE YEAR

[MosJan]

SUMMING UP THE YEAR

Top political quartet unchanged

Starting March 2001 Russian ‘Panorama’ information-experimental center together with daily Azg holds polls aiming to find out the most influential political figures of Armenia. In December the ‘Panorama’ center summed up the results for the whole year.

 

 

The first quartet of the political figures remained unchanged- Armenian president Robert Kocharian, defense minister Serzh Sargsian, prime minister Andranik Margarian and foreign minister Vardan Oskanian. The fifth in the top-ten list comes Armenian parliament deputy Artashes Geghamian- the most influential opposition figure. For his zeal in the constitutional changes deputy Shavarsh Kocharian entered the top-twenty list of influential politicians of Armenia. Also interesting is that according to experts the most influential businessmen of Armenia is considered Michael Baghdasarov- the head of Mika Limited petroleum company.

 

 

Summing up the year 2001, we asked our experts to assess the tendencies of Armenia’s political field, as well as the expectations of the coming year.

 

 

Aghasi Tadevosian, Center for National and Strategic Research: The tendency that shadow levers and illegitimate competition remain the factors conditioning the influence of Armenian political figures and powers continues to prevail in the inner-political field of Armenia. That is, the popularity of political figures among people is not based on the ideology they pursue. Unfortunately this tendency is going to continue, for powers functioning by non-political methods still prevail in the political field, and regretfully those powers who are guided by clear ideology and political methods are not fully formed yet.

 

 

David Petrosian, ‘Noyan Tapan’ news agency: In coming 3-4 months the ‘ruling party’ will not have problems in the inner-political field. They may also succeed in passing the changes in the Constitution. But such unexpected steps like the dissolution of parliament may be made – as a way of overcoming inner-political crisis. I do not agree to the viewpoint that the opposition is weak and helpless. Interesting processes are possible to start in this camp- including the growth of popularity of its leaders. Groundless are the rumors about the possible return of HHSh (Pan-Armenian National Movement) to power.

 

 

Ara Sahakian, ‘Armat’ Democracy and Civil Society Development Center: ‘Influential’ are those figures, who maintain the authority and economic levers. That’s why I think that Kocharian, Serzh Sargsian, Oskanian ands Margarian will preserve their influence. The influence of oppositionists is incomparably little, and it changes due to very tiny shifts. Consequently the influence of oppositionists is very short in time, and this characterizes the authoritarian governing system existing in Armenia and the absence of political institutions.

 

 

Rafik Hovhannisian, ‘Armenia’ TV channel: I think that the most notable change in the inner-political life is that the prime minister strengthens his positions. The influence of other political figures is conditioned by the real authority levers but not political popularity.

 

 

Aharon Adibekian, ‘Sociometer Center’: The year is notable for the stabilization of political relations between political powers after the shock of 1999 parliament attack. It became clear that the presidential camp is the deciding axis of all political processes, and the place of opposition is still vacant. The reason of failure of Armenian opposition is that they pursue personal interests and authority, but not certain ideology or policy.

 

 

Finishing the last poll of this year, we want to thank all the contributors and experts who helped us in implementing the project.

 

 

Author of project- Suren Manukian, Center for Political and Regional Research

 

© Copyright AZG