By Armen Gevorgyan

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan joining the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) headed by RA President Serzh Sargsyan was a surprise, but natural move.

The authorities have actually embarked on a program of strengthening control over the country’s political life and economic policy. On the other hand, the ruling party shouldered the responsibility for an internally rather contradictory anti-crisis program of the RA Government. As regards the efforts to “neutralize” the consequences of the global economic crisis exerted by the recently “unaffiliated” Premier, one could hardly designate them as effective. At the end of this year, Armenia is faced with a drastic fall in the key economic indicators. The Premier’s optimistic statements about ambitious projects supposed to cause Armenia to rank among the states with “innovation economic models” gave way to the alarming reports by the RA Statistical Service and comments on the progressively increasing foreign debt. One can hardly fail to notice that the radical Opposition is now basing its criticism on the socio-economic conditions in the country. Under the circumstances the Armenian Premier received his “party baptism.”

So the RPA assumes the responsibility for the Government’s economic policy and further decisions. On the other hand, Premier Tigran Sargsyan will not henceforth be viewed as an independent political figure, who, under certain conditions, would be capable of acting as an “autonomous pole.” Thus, all the forecasts that, in the future elections, the Armenian Premier might lead the Armenakan-Ramkavar Azatakan Party, have become absolutely pointless. This political project, which elicited numerous comments, with most of them being critical ones, has persistently been linked with the name of the Premier’s name and intention to form a national coalition to counterbalance the influence of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF).

Losing “freedom” was obviously the Premier’s “forced choice” aimed to “cover his bases” in meeting the major economic challenges facing the Armenian Government. No doubt, this year has been a year of crisis, with next year to be a year of aftermath.

Even the RPA may view Tigran Sargsyan as a politician, who, amid the growing domestic political instability, is capable of playing a different role. So it may soon recall him from the post of Prime Minister and delegate different powers to him. The second option is more realistic. The RPA is well aware of the fact that the Premier has turned into a “perfect sitting target” for not only the Opposition, but also the competing pro-government camps. So the party is applying “protection mechanisms” to its “fledgling” member.