April 25, 2012 - 14:37 AMT
Parties will have to report back for pledges after elections – economy expert

In an attempt to boost their rating, the parties running for the parliament come up with very ambitious goals and pledges in their campaigns, Tatul Manaseryan said on April 25.

“There is a good saying: lie is mostly voiced at wars and before elections,” Doctor of Economics, professor, head of Alternative research center told a press conference in Yerevan.

The economist sees some progress in the election programs as compared to those published during previous parliamentary campaign; now parties involve specialists who won’t allow for much speculation on the economic components.

“3-4 parties presented specific estimates in this campaign,” he said adding that the political forces mostly aim to touch the “weak point”, namely creation of new jobs.

Therefore, Manaseryan tends to believe those parties which promise to assist in creation of a favourable atmosphere for SME and private entrepreneurship development.

“Even a pledge to create 2000 new jobs is a huge progress for a small country like Armenia,” he emphasized.

The expert further noted that “May 7 will come soon, and voters will anticipate implementation of these programs; the ruling parties and forces will have to report on this”.