“With the [unfolding] fight against an increase in the price of electricity in Armenia, the authorities will hardly succeed in deflecting the public’s attention and quietly pushing through their constitutional reforms,” writes “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.” “The people have realized that the real purpose of those reforms is to prolong their rule, which is primarily responsible for the electricity price hike.”
“The authorities represented by the independent [Public Services Regulatory] commission are saying that the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA) company is operating at a loss and that we, the consumers, are to blame for that because we do not pay them enough,” editorializes “Aravot.” “For our part, we, the consumers, believe that the managers of that company, including branch chiefs, live too luxurious lives, which is why they have run up huge debts. Parliament deputies must verify our presumption also because the state, namely the taxpayers, is acting like the guarantor of that company’s commercial risks.”
“Zhamanak” comments on Armenia’s expectations from the European Union’s upcoming summit in Riga that will focus on the EU’s Eastern Partnership program. “There seems to be at least one thing which does not require debates in Armenia anymore: Armenia-EU relations need a serious repair,” writes the paper.
“Zhoghovurd” recalls that President Serzh Sarkisian officially announced his plans to amend Armenia’s constitution in September 2013 one day after publicizing his unexpected decision to seek Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The paper says that by setting up an ad hoc commission on constitutional reform Sarkisian sought to show the EU that he is committed to democratizing Armenia and “expanding the circle of persons wielding real power” in the country. It sees geopolitical motives behind this drive.
(Naira Bulghadarian)