Economist describes Hayk Marutyan’s election program “composition of beautiful sentences”

Yerevan City Council campaign ends today. According to social opinion polls candidate from My Step alliance Hayk Marutyan is leader of the upcoming elections. Aysor.am conducted interview with economist Areg Sargsyan over the pre-election program of the alliance.

The program of My Step alliance is very similar to Nikol Pashinyan’s government’s program as the definitions in both programs do not pass the threshold of “kind wills.” “They present brilliant ideas, starting from building new metro station, upgrading transport system ending by solution of garbage removal issue. But none of them registers with what means, with involvement of what financial means these programs will be carried out. As a citizen, I am very happy for their kind wishes but as an economist for me this program is just a composition of beautiful sentences and nothing more,” Sargsyan said.

The economist said that the points registered in the program may theoretically be implemented but the financial source is not clear.

“Construction of new metro station will cost at least 120 billion AMD which is about 40 billion more than Yerevan’s 2018 budget (80 billion AMD),” he said, adding that for keeping his promises Hayk Marutyan should ensure more than twice of the amount of the budget to implement at least one out of his 50 promises.

Speaking about public transport upgrade, the economist said it fully repeats the one of the ex mayor’s and his team. “There is no clear information how much these reforms will cost,” he said, adding that according to the program, the number of transportation means will reduce from 2039 to 939 which means 1,100 people will lose jobs.

“They are also speaking about elevators’ issue. 4,200 out of 4,400 elevators in Yerevan are in emergency situation. They should either be renovated or replaced. The variant proposed by the My Step alliance’s candidate will cost more than the replacement of these elevators,” he said, adding that again there is a promise without concrete financial source.

The economist said he views these issues from professional viewpoint and it is for Yerevan residents to decide who to vote for.