YEREVAN. - The Armenian Parliament has postponed the voting on the ARF-D-submitted bill on the minimum basket of goods, pensions and allowances.

The decision was made after Galust Sahakyan, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group, said the group will not vote on the “untimely bill”. Aram Safaryan, Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary group, made a similar statement.

Speaking in Parliament, Chairman of the ARF-D parliamentary group Vahan Hovhannisyan said he believes the ruling parties are for the bill, but they object to adopting it now.

“The government admitted yesterday they have no funds to raise pensions and allowances. So let us put off the voting on the bill and prove the authorities they have the money,” Hovhannisyan said.  

The ARF-D offers to increase the amount of pensions and allowances from current AMD 28, 000 ($ 74) to AMD 61, 000 ($ 161). The ARF-D member Artsvik Minasyan stated in parliament that the government has the necessary funds. However, the government’s current policy is breeding poverty rather than reducing it.

“The Armenian authorities need a controllable shadow economy. Due to the government’s economic policy, the people are doomed to poverty now. The government is unable to resolve the country’s urgent problems. So they should not hope to enjoy public confidence,” he said.

The Armenian government, as well as the ruling majority, objects to the bill. The government has no funds for such reforms, they say.