YEREVAN. – Prosperous Armenia used to voice criticism against pension reform in the past, says MP and economist Vardan Bostanjyan.

Bostanjyan, a member of Prosperous Armenia (PA), assured reporters his party fellows and he himself had numerously slammed the cumulative pension plan.

The pension plan was discussed in Armenia in mid 2000s and was criticized by the MPs from PA and ARF Dashnaktsuyun, but not the ministers of PA that used to be members of the coalition government.

“The people of Armenia do not want new pension reform, and the political forces will support them. At the same time we must realize it is not that easy, the model of state pensions may not work one day, as it happened with the Soviet system. No one says the cumulative pension plan is not necessary. The point is why do they want to introduce it right now without any reference to the current situation?” Bostanjyan said.

A large gathering-march is expected to be held Saturday at Yerevan’s Liberty Square. Those fighting against the new cumulative pension plan and the representatives from the four non-ruling-coalition factions—specifically, the Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Heritage—of the Armenian National Assembly will take part in this event.   

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am