Armenian parliament deputy speaker responds to opposition criticism of ruling party

YEREVAN, November 12. / ARKA /. A deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament from the ruling Republican Party retaliated today to criticism of the opposition MPs who blamed the government for lack of political will to solve the social problems of citizens. 

The opposition MPs lashed out at the government after the Republican Party pushed through the parliament in the first reading a bill raising minimum wage by only 2,500 drams (less than $7) to 35,000 drams. The bill sparked the outrage of some MPs, who argued the government may increase it substantially.

The Zharangutyun (Heritage) and the Armenian National Congress voted against the bill, while lawmakers form the second largest Prosperous Armenian faction abstained.

"We realize that 35,000 drams is a very little amount to solve a problem. But we are determined to raise the minimum wage annually as well as improve the living conditions of our citizens ", Eduard Sharmazanov said.

He called on fellow lawmakers to not use the parliament rostrum "for different kinds of speculation."

"I do not want to make assessments – let our fellow citizens do it. They know who does the real work, and who is engaged in populism. Most of Armenian citizens link solutions to their problems with the Republican Party by voting for it in elections,’ he said.

Earlier, the secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Naira Zohrabyan, said why the minimum wage must be lower than the subsistence level which officially is 53,000 drams.

The lawmakers from another opposition party- the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) - suggested that the government revises minimum wage annually based on subsistence level 

Finance minister Vache Gabrielyan, who presented the bill to the parliament, argued that this minimum wage growth rate is the most optimal being in tune with budget potential and will not entail layoffs and growing informal sector.

He also said the five-year program of the government envisages an increase of minimum wage up to 65 thousand drams in 2016. ($ 1 - 408.91 drams). -0-