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Bright Armenia opposition faction of the Armenian parliament proposed the authorities to provide irrevocable state support to citizens in the amount of 5-10% of GDP back when the coronavirus crisis was expected to hit Armenia, Bright Armenia MP Edmon Marukyan told a briefing on Monday, referring to the coronavirus relief programs implemented by the government.

According to the deputy, 14 social support programs have been approved in Armenia which have extremely complicated procedures. “A company that pays billions of drams in taxes, but delays to pay only 150,000 drams, according to these criteria is no longer considered a bona fide taxpayer and cannot use loans with 0% interest rates,” he said.

According to Marukyan, instead of 14 coronavirus relief measures, there should have been two –one economic and one social programs – and up to 10% of GDP support should have been provided in support to citizens.

"According to our estimates, within the framework of these programs, only 0.84% of the GDP is allocated irrevocably. Whereas, the 150 billion drams of the provided support will mostly return [to the state budget]. We grant a credit subsidizing its interest rates. The interest rates on that loans and the amount of existing social assistance together do not even make up 1% of our GDP,” Marukyan said.

Also, the opposition MP said that the social support programs are late and do not cover all the needy families. "Has anything been done for day laborers and renters, or for migrant workers who have constantly transferred money to Armenia?" There are villages that have been surviving only on the money sent by migrant workers. Now people in those villages are idled, what should they do? They are high-class masters in various fields of construction.  Again the situation is incomprehensible here,” the MP stated.

Marukyan says no country has implemented 14 separate coronavirus relief programs, arguing it makes no sense.

"I think it is not too late now to provide support in line with the dramatization of the situation, otherwise it will lead to a great economic and social collapse. We have constantly lobbied to bring forward adequate programs to help the society. In order the wealthy not to receive any support, such criteria are being developed that many needy people do not receive support either. All this becomes meaningless,” Marukyan said.