The split of the monolith ruling Armenia is often the issue of social and political discussions. Some political forces even try to ascribe this split to themselves, stating that it is the result of their political scenario and wise patience.
It is certainly impossible to cover the topic of the monolith of the government fully or even half of it in one article. The ruling system is multi-layered and large.
However, in a general description of the monolith one should note that the split of the monolith is not someone’s “laurel”, it is a credit of time and the changes it brings. More exactly, time and the changes it brings make the split of this monolith better visible.
The point is that there was no ruling monolith in Armenia. When was the pyramid monolithic in Armenia? Had there been a monolith, in 1995 the Armenian National Movement would hardly choose the option of reproduction by means of a non-ideological Republic bloc. Meanwhile, this bloc of ideological colors was formed in order to balance the existing disagreement inside the pyramid.
The election of 1996 was held with a split monolith and only the post-election developments and the danger of losing power made the government forget about disagreement and come together to neutralize the danger of Vazgen Manukyan’s electorate.
1998 displayed in a brighter light how “firm” the government was. 29 October 1999 showed that no monolithic government was established even after the change of government in 1998 and after formation of the Unity bloc in 1999.
Was it established after 2000 when Robert Kocharyan crushed the ambitions of Vazgen Manukyan and his team and split the Republican Party by appointing Andranik Margaryan as prime minister? Hardly so because otherwise Robert Kocharyan would not form a three-party coalition government and balance the RPA with the ARF and the Rule of Law Party. Although, this three-party coalition expressed more diverse interests than mere balance.
The beginning of the modern stage of split of the monolith was 2007 when Robert Kocharyan nurtured Prosperous Armenia to run in the race with the RPA for parliamentary majority.
In 2008 Levon Ter-Petrosyan helped the government to unite. His return made the government retreat from the situation established in 2007 and fight Ter-Petrosyan together but, nevertheless, Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan each pursued their own interests.
After the mitigation of the first surge of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s threat the pyramid returned to its previous position and the split continued.
Armenia has never been ruled by a monolithic government. This monolith first split when Armenia declared independence. In 1991 Vazgen Manukyan split from the Armenian National Movement, and the crack is still running down the stone.
However, the political opposition has never been able to use the opportunity and play on the controversies and clash of interests of the wings of government. It was always engaged in the game and gradually went on to serve as a platform where the wings of power settled their issues from time to time.
The present situation does not differ much from the situation of the previous years.
The situation outside the government is different both in Armenia and in the world. This situation requires an open game, cover-up is complicated because information technologies develop like a streak of lightning. At the same time, the rules of the international game are changing, new rules are sought for, the requirements from ruling elites are changing, responsibility grows.
Formerly the government tried its hardest to hide the slightest sign of the split, fearing that it would be perceived as its weakness and facilitate the collapse of the system. Now the government understands that the monolith cannot be hidden anymore and tries to use it to its benefit presenting it as an expression of competition and democracy.
It is also obvious that the government uses the split more effectively than the political opposition. Perhaps this is the reason why the split is a means for the government, while for the opposition it is an aim that justifies the means.
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