When the government acts on the principle of Tefal
In Armenia we notice a shocking phenomenon. The government calls all of its actions, even the most negative with a lofty goal – “We are doing it for the people.” It means they usually do it for the people, whose pockets are emptied for this goal.
For example, speed-measuring devices are installed and they substantiate it with the cause of drivers’ safety. The cigarette tax is added with the cause of not harming the people’s health. Instead of us they are deciding that we should integrate with the European Union, sign the Association Agreement and then instead of us they change their minds and decide to join the Customs Union. They are saying it’s much better. The readers might remember the slogan of the commercial of Tefal pans – “We are doing it all for you.” The policies of the government today resemble the marketing strategy of Tefal. Perhaps, the most controversial and vocal initiative of the government – the pension reform with its mandatory component, is not an exception either. By justifying their actions with the phrase that reforms are always painful, the government doesn’t give in and doesn’t wish to delay the initiative for at least a year.
Vice versa, they are trying to convince us that they care so much of us that think they should accumulate our funds and then give them back to us. All the justifications and causes break into parts by encountering the “love wall” of the nation. Moreover, this love is so strong that even the decision of the Constitutional Court cannot hinder it. By using all of its levers the government makes everyone to make these payments. Moreover, in order to do so they are circulating all kinds of interpretations, according to which the CC decision doesn’t exempt the workers from the 5%. And again, they are attempting to show that this is a result of big love.
For example, the Central Bank in its famous statement urges the government to abstain from this idea by telling that the government will appear in a worse shape when trying to pay back these funds. In their turn, the ones, who are close to the government elite, persuade their employees how important it is to save this notorious 5% from salaries. It’s ok that later the CC decided that these laws contradict the RA constitution. Even the statement of the head of the personnel of the CC Arushan Hakobyan didn’t affect the decision and the intention. Hakobyan stated, “The government nor any subject can mandatorily make a citizen of Armenia to make regular/periodic periods to the pension fund because it is illegal.” Nonetheless, the government ignored the decision of the CC. The 5% was levied from the personnel of the CC as well. The %% will be levied from NA MPs, from the ones, who initiated that the law is unconstitutional. Perhaps such a thing can only happen in Armenia.
There is no need to analyze and try to understand why the government is so persistent. We shouldn’t speculate over this matter either. Everything is hidden in that insatiable love. The government loves us so much that can go against the CC decision as well. So all the people, whose paychecks were 5% less should know that the government loves them very much.
They should know that it was a Valentine present from the government. And most importantly, this is not the only demonstration of this love. It is very much better seen in a period that the government proudly calls elections. We ourselves don’t know who would lead our state better. Instead of us government decides who can give us a better future. They cannot be mistaken and let this country turn into a state where no one makes decisions.
By Babken Tunyan
