In 2012 paternalism in Armenia finally prevailed over the period of ideologies, Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus Institute, said at the Caucasus- 2012
international conference in Yerevan, Friday.
"Starting with the election of Hrazdan Mayor on Feb 12 2012 up to the election of Yerevan Mayor on May 5 2013, technologies in Armenia had been steadily and inevitably gaining the victory over ideologies. Roughly said, money won evil. In 2008, especially in the period from Feb 19 up to Mar 1, there was the fight of ideologies vs. technologies. However, at all the elections in 2012 it became obvious the opposition will fail to come to power from the streets," the political expert said.
Iskandaryan believes that at the parliamentary elections that predetermined the current state of affairs, the Republican Party of Armenia and the Prosperous Armenia Party applied exclusively technologies in terms of 'presents,' pressure, promises to voters. In the meantime, the Armenian National Congress and ARFD in their campaigns were advancing ideologies. The victory of the RPA and PAP at the parliamentary elections once against proved that Armenia has got tired of the protracted period of ideologies.
"With Gagik Tsarukyan's refusal to run for president, it has become clear that 'mousetrap shut'. Two pro- governmental parties and 3 or 4 oppositional ones entered the parliament. Now the opposition may say everything it wants from the parliament tribune but it cannot influence the decisions and the policy of the authorities. This is how technologies work in Armenia," he said.