This week, the subsequent four day meeting of Armenian National Assembly didn’t take place over lack of a quorum. Perhaps, the parliamentarians were so busy with the election campaign that they completely forgot about their direct responsibilities i.e. legislative activity, with more disciplined MPs having joined the traditional truants this time.

PanARMENIAN.Net tried to learn the MP’s opinion about the sabotage of the parliament’s operation during a traditional National Assembly briefing. Orinats Yerkir’s parliamentary group leader Heghine Bisharyan, voicing regret over the frustration of the four-day meeting, urged against blaming the MPs. She added that even their European counterparts note that the same occurs in their countries in the midst of election campaign.

ARF Dashnaktstyun member Artsvik Minasyan didn’t deem skipping the four-day meeting disgraceful, either. Moreover, in response to PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s remark noting that MPs are paid for their legislative activity, Mr. Minasyan dubbed the parliamentarians’ salary as their constitutional right. Either he didn’t understand the question or he thinks the MPs’ salary comprises the payment for their propaganda for won re-election.

As always, the head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group Galust Sahakyan stood out for his eloquence. To the same question he answered that “MPs are paid for communication with the public”. Having no time during their term of office for that, they sensed such a great desire to communicate with public upon completion of their terms that the even the National assembly rules and constitutional commitments couldn’t keep them back.

As for the parliamentary groups of Prosperous Armenia and Heritage parties, their representatives didn’t attend the briefing.

In conclusion, it remains to remind the MPs of their direct responsibility i.e. legislative activity, for which they are paid for and of the need to ensure active work in parliament throughout the five years of their term of office, and not during the election campaign with various vows. After all, their pledges serve a single purpose- to ensure another opportunity to skip National Assembly meetings.