Notes from the Election Blogosphere

Despite Friday’s unprecedented speech by the first president, and one that some are already taking as marking the start of his election campaign, there is surprisingly little reaction to the effective return of Levon Ter Petrosian to political life here. However, what little there is can at least be considered informative and the grounds on which to initiate real reflection on Ter Petrosian’s tenure as president.

It also gives us all a chance to consider how Armenia has developed since Ter Petrosian was forced to resign and leave office in 1998. However, what is particularly interesting is how local Armenians who can remember that time view Ter Petrosian’s possible candidacy for the 2008 presidential election. Perhaps the most thought provoking is one by Artmika at Unzipped.

I remember his presidency back then. Let’s make it this way, I WANT to remember the first couple of years of his presidency. I felt like living in a democratic country. It was so exciting, you could just feel freedom out there… I had big hopes that at last my dream of seeing Armenia as democratic country is becoming true.

I quite liked Levon back then. He was intelligent, had charisma. However, instead of strengthening democracy and making it a way of life, he turned the process back. That’s the main reason I will not forgive him. He surrounded himself with people and choices which ruined any hope for better. And eventually, as expected, he got betrayed by the same people and choices.

I do not really blame him for those horrific few years, when we lived like… probably the way people live under war conditions, without electricity, with bread cards etc. These were the harshest years in my life. I won’t like anyone to experience what we’ve gone through… I do not think he is to blame for it, that was mainly a consequence of geopolitical situation Armenia was in and we survived it. However, I blame him for not fighting corruption, and instead creating an environment where corruption reached unprecedented levels even for ex-Soviet standards.

Interestingly, nearly all of what Artmika has said is pretty common to hear when talking about Ter Petrosian to some people here. The main exception, however, is that many say that they would still vote for him. Some say this because they genuinely want to see him return and take the presidency, while others say they would vote for him only if it was either that or the current prime minister, Serzh Sarkisian. Artmika finds the latter opinion regrettable.

I noticed general tendency that people try to create an impression that there is no other choice in Armenia, they are the only ones. I do not buy it. Unfortunately, it seems that so far there is no real, ‘working’ candidate for opposition. And I do not want to make a choice between the lesser of evils, it is not a choice, it’s like a lottery, and I do not trust lottery. I want to have real choice. And by choice I do not mean that “anyone else will be better”. I need real alternative. If you do not provide me with a CHOICE, I’d rather stick with the current status quo, however critical I may be towards them.

The Armenian Observer also provides us with a comprehensive review of reactions from the Armenian and Russian language media and blogosphere to Ter Petrosian’s speech in which he criticized the state of the country and effectively said he would run for president if it was necessary. Some are already taking his words as meaning he’s more likely to run than not although no final decision has yet been made in public at least. Others consider that he’s already made his mind up.

Citing a post by Reporter_Arm, Observer is more concerned about whether Ter Petrosian is able to change the course of the country which many critics now consider is mired in corruption and social polarization unheard since independence was declared in 1991. Critics argue that the system in place now was actually introduced by the former president.

[…] noting that people like the well known businessman: Khachatur Sukiasyan were also present at the event, finds it noteworthy, that Ter-Petrosyan dedicated a part of his speech to the word “oligarch”, saying this term shouldn’t be used, and that “They are businessmen and pay taxes, perhaps even more then they should. But you know whose pocket these taxes flow into”. The blogger speculates, that at this point Ter-Petrosyan is sending a message to the oligarchs, that in case of his election, their interests will be protected.

So, no change there then, and perhaps it’s no wonder that Observer is against any talk of Ter Petrosian’s return. In particular, in a comment left on this blog as well as duplicated on his own, he spells out exactly why.

While many people justify his mistakes and suffering caused to the people during the years of LTP rule by war conditions, I accuse him for a week personality, for being a bad manager, with very weak people skills: giving too much power to people like Vano, Vazgen, Kocharian, Serzh, as a result of which he was removed from power.

I understand difficulties of those times, but times are even harder and more difficult today, and I don’t see why is everybody willing to trust once again the person who failed his job the last time?

Levon has shown himself not as a strategic politician, but rather as a situative player, who is ready to speak of national reunion and democracy on one occasion, but quickly abandon these ideas as soon as conditions change, which is again a sign of weekness in personality.

I hate this ‘monarch’ appeal around him - and the fact that he used to hold himself like a king (and still does), and I hate the people, who are willing to call back their ‘king’ just because his ‘majesty’ was once a ‘majesty’. Who cares? I want a politician - not someone with royal blood! Can’t people understand, that electing a president is like hiring a skilled worker for an important job?

Still, one thing’s for sure. As Observer says, if Ter Petrosian runs this might be an election where real issues regarding Armenia’s development are discussed publicly and where there will be real reflection on where the country is 16 years after independence from the former Soviet Union. It might also push the government to quickly address some outstanding issues and problems facing the country that it should have faced up to long ago.

[…] the man has just defined the whole agenda of the upcoming presidential elections! Corruption, Kharabakh, Foreign Policy priorities.

If that’s the case, this will be an election quite unlike any other and I’m sure the local media here will dwell on such issues and reflect on the situation in the country in the coming days and weeks. For that alone, Ter Petrosian’s speech can be considered quite important indeed. If the Armenian Revolutionary — Dashnaktsutiun (ARF-D) are correct, it might also reintroduce political ideology into the process.

Levon Ter Petrosian, HHSh Independence Day Reception, Marriott Armenia, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007