Hayastan (Õ€Õ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶), Armenia for those not versed in the language that dates back to 405 AD) or as Transparency International likes to refer to as, the 60th least corrupt nation (circa 2021) has awoken from its post war slumber. In a turnout (49.4%) that makes US Presidential elections look good, the voters have put to bed their love of war tyrants and kleptocrats.
The former President, Robert Kocharian represented the aforementioned and was extinguished. The incumbent Nikol Pashinian is back for another attempt of taking Hayastan to the next level, (as it currently stands it's vying with the likes of Moldova in the democratic norms). With its emphasis on technology, (little known fact: countries like Albania are trying to mirror the efforts of Armenia in educating computer coders) I can see it following in the footsteps of Estonia, only if it can keep distancing from war lust.
Many of my fellow earthlings who share my Armenian ancestry will no doubt be wanting Pashinian's head on a platter, but we can't keep hating on leaders that are sick of holding grudges in the battle for disputed ancient lands, as I stated in my past op-ed on the topic. https://globaleditorial.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-caucasus-depict-worst-in-humans.html
Have I lost earthlings that don't give two hoots about the world's oldest Christian nation yet? Bare with me, I needed to give this tiny republic a shout-out, not because of my surname, but for the fact it took gumption for a leader of a relatively new republic to reign over war games and call a snap vote to see if a military satellite of Putin's Russia could stand up and say no to more conflict. NP still needs to rise above the kleptocracy that is in Armenia's DNA.
For now let's take a win for a quasi democracy that may just become the next Yisra'el (minus all those bomb sirens). Speaking of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi) has finally been vanquished. I'm not holding my breath, suppressing Palestinians with blind US backing is still listed as a hobby on Israel's CV. For now, let's rejoice that a grand coalition has managed to dethrone the cockroach. Let's celebrate the many firsts of the 36th government of Israel: Arab Party (Ra'am) makes up one of the eight parties in the ruling coalition (Mansour Abbas named Deputy Minister of Arab Affairs in the PM's office), Pnina Tamano-Shata (one of a record-breaking nine woman in the 27 member cabinet) becomes Minister for Immigrant Absorption, the first Ethiopian-born woman to hold a ministry.
Natfali Bennett is locked in as PM for two years, as an individual he's even scarier than Bibi, but the difference is he agreed to only stay as PM for two years and accept the Coalition agreement. In other words, he was so desperate for power that he let go of his ultra nationalist orthodox tendencies for the good of a rainbow coalition. His detractors will say he is a snake like Bibi waiting to pounce. Much will be said in the coming years, but for now let's rejoice before another military skirmish ensues, GE raises its glass (lemon-lime is the Editors choice of drink) to Israel's 36th government.
