Education Minister says opposition's criticism has boosted his TV show's rating
"Instead of engaging in counter-agitation of the constitutional amendments, representatives of the Armenian National Congress form "a false agenda" and launch counter-propaganda of 'Ashotyan's TV Show,'" Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan told reporters, Thursday.
He said the opposition's criticism has boosted the TV show's rating. Although the minister is a member of the Executive Body of the Republican Party that is advocating the Constitutional Reform, he assured reporters that "there is no reason to cast doubt on his impartiality as the TV show host and the equal terms of the sides during TV debates."
To recall, the Armenian National Congress (ANC) has disseminated a statement wherein it says that at the National Assembly hearings of the report by the Public Television and Radio Company Board, ANC appealed to the Director of the Board with a proposal to organize a TV program where the supporters and the opponents of the Constitutional amendments will have an opportunity to debate on equal terms.
"The TV show called "Yerankyuni" ("Trianle") that was broadcasted on the Public Television on the same day was nothing but mockery over the equality principle. The Show host is Armen Ashotyan, the vice chairman of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, minister of education and science. The audience was biased too. It is obvious that the government is afraid or real debates between the opponents and supporters of the constitutional amendments on equal terms. Nowhere in the world the head of the ruling party hosts a TV show either on the public or even on the private TV. All this speaks of a collision of interests and the way the government representatives perceive democracy."
Earlier, Gagik Haroutiunyan, Chairman of the Constitutional Court was appointed as the head of the Commission for Constitutional Amendments, which was another example of disrespect for elementary principles of democracy and freedom of speech. This shows that the authorities look to push through the constitutional amendments.
ANC demands the authorities to refuse from the unlawful step that casts a doubt on the legitimacy of the Constitutional referendum. ANC urges a public debate host by impartial professionals and audience," the ANC says in the statement.
To recall, Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan hosts a political show on the Public Television.