YEREVAN (Tert)—Lilit Galstian, a former opposition lawmaker from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) says she no longer sees any tangible tactics or methodology in Armenian politics to expect serious reforms.

 

“All the botched attempts to change the country and government push it back several steps, stirring up a new wave of disappointment and unjustified expectations in the society,” she said in an interview with Tert.am.

Galstian said she believes strongly that political forces in Armenia have enough potential to promote positive changes. She said she is under the impression that there are professionals in state structures who could change the political atmosphere for the better to use the existing revolutionary energy for the country’s development

“This thought of mine is perhaps from the series of political realism, but apparently enough, the absence of alternatives causes insurmountable retreats. So we must be able see and value the people who are able to extricate Armenia from this pit,” she added.

Galstian said she doesn’t think that the coalition government ever tried to embark on any serious reforms in the country’s interests. “The game rules were never equal and finalized to the full. Perhaps, it is naïve to speak about sincerity and morality in politics, but I believe sincerity and morality and responsibility are precisely what we do not see on out political arena.”

Asked whether she thinks that a coalition representing all the political forces would in any way heal the situation, Galstian said she feels very positive about the format. “It is possible also to think of a government format representing co-thinkers. Provided, of course, we are politically reasonable. One thing that remains obvious is that elections have never been a real tool to form a government in the country. And this is why the authorities are vulnerable when it comes to their moral legitimacy. Is it impossible to see that a government formed in this [way] is not able to offer the state any remedies or formula as to what to do? They very often do but never bring them to life as they never manage to ensure public solidarity. Besides, there isn’t enough political will,” Galstian noted.