Voter Expectations & Prosperous Armenia
Gagik Tsarukian, Prosperous Armenia Campaign Rally, Arabkir, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
As mentioned previously on this blog here, here, and here, it’s easy to see why the Prosperous Armenia founded by Armenia’s richest man, Gagik Tsarukian, has managed to attract widespread support ahead of the May parliamentary election. Basically, the opposition and governmental parties are considered to be two sides of the same coin, with neither better than the other.
Significantly, promises made during the campaign period will not be fulfilled, but at least say some voters, Tsarukian has created jobs, and is likely to do more of the same in the future. Meanwhile, the more cynical of potential voters see the election as a way to obtaining some short-term gain. EurasiaNet has more on this unfortunate reality in today’s Armenia.
Do ideas count in Armenia’s May 12 parliamentary vote? The answer appears to be no.
The unfulfilled promises of previous campaigns have left a large segment of the Armenian electorate feeling disillusioned. Pollsters, candidates and voters all state that handouts and free pop concerts are doing more to sway attitudes about a particular party or candidate than are specific policy proposals. Many Armenians, in fact, joke that a prize should be given to anyone who can find five differences between the platforms of the 24 parties competing for parliamentary seats.
Members of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly observation mission have bemoaned the lack of emphasis on public policy, telling journalists on April 14 that “no significant differences can be found in the platforms of the candidates and the parties.”
“Many perceive this election as a struggle between political elites, not ideas and principles,” said the PACE mission head, Leo Platvoet.
[…]
Gevorg Poghosian, head of the Armenian Sociological Association, said voters should not be faulted for harboring cynical attitudes toward the campaign. He pointed to past experience which shows that campaign promises are rarely kept. “They [potential voters] are simply tired of hearing about programs that can’t be realized, and understand that party promises and programs very rarely come true,” said Poghosian. “That is why they prefer making use of the moment and selling their votes.”
[…]
Such handouts — usually termed “acts of charity” — have become closely associated with the pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party, which has experienced a meteoric rise in its membership over the past year. Based on an early April survey of 2,000 respondents, the British pollster Populus estimates that the party, little known before last year, now commands the support of 27 percent of voters, slightly behind the ruling Republican Party of Armenia which reportedly has 31 percent of voters’ support.
Party members openly acknowledge that the party’s popularity is closely linked to the image of its leader, tycoon Gagik Tsarukian, who is viewed as a deep-pocketed benefactor. The provision of free bus rides for university students, or the establishment of regional healthcare clinics merely show that “he is capable of solving the problems and the social issues of which a significant part of the population complain,” said Vardan Bostanjian, a Prosperous Armenia candidate.
In many ways, it’s not hard to see that Tsarukian and Prosperous Armenia have taken on the role of the State in the lives of some Armenians, and it’s interesting to wonder whether or not the BHK isn’t simply becoming the modern day equivalent of the former Communist Party from the Soviet era. Rightly or wrongly, that’s what many Armenians want. The full article is here.
Prosperous Armenia Student Bus, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia for EurasiaNet 2007
Once again, E-channel has more on how and why people are enticed into becoming members of the Prosperous Armenia or Republican Party. Interestingly, however, it is yet to cover in detail the widespread apathy and cynicism prevalent in the minds of most voters towards the opposition, or why many people respect a few of the candidates, but will not vote. Anyway.
It’s kind of ironic that such reports of which the “alternative” media is full of these days probably act more as unintended advertisements for the pro-government parties rather than anything else.
Comment by Onnik — April 26, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
BTW: Another interesting account speaking to your run of the mill citizen here, but this time a taxi driver working for a company with 100 cars throughout the city and according to this driver, owned by the late Prime Minister Andranik Markarian’s son.
Well, anyway, this guy had 6 kids and couldn’t pay for heating this winter so Markarian’s son gave him a job. In return, the driver joined the Republican party. Ironically, he seemed somewhat cynical about the election, but couldn’t see any alternative in the form of the opposition.
He also seemed to appreciate Tsarukian. “He’s a good man,” the driver said. “He helps people and employs them.”
Anyway, I’m not saying this is representative of the population, but the last comment is certainly one I keep on hearing in Armenia, rightly or wrongly. Anyway.
Comment by Onnik — April 27, 2007 @ 12:34 am