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The social media is flooded with the slogans of political forces running in the September 18 municipal elections in Yerevan and recommendations on how to write them. Frankly speaking, I don't know why candidates need to come up with a slogan. Maybe because for some of them it’s the only thing they said before their nomination. Or maybe it's just a logical assignment to summarize their ideas in a short string of words. Either way, it's interesting to look at the slogans offered by mayoral candidate.

Artak Galstyan: "The public voice is your voice!”

This amounts to violence. Why should the public voice be my voice? Don't I have my own views? Don't I have the right to stand out? Who is this "Public" who took my voice away from me? To make it more logical, I would have written, “Your voice is the voice of the public", thus giving weight and importance to every vote. This is either the result of poor knowledge of Armenian or real violence.

Arman Ghukasian: "You can do it!"

Specifically? Or in general?

Is it about cooking borscht or creativity?

It remains me of a joke: A hedgehog is practicing self-training: I won't ...., I won't ,,,,,,,,!  O_o.  That's not me! That's not me!

Tigran Avinian: "Say it, we'll do it!"

No comment!

Artak Zeynalyan: "You are my Yerevan..."

And there is this dotted line, again. It’s something "poetic" and absolutely unclear.

Norayr Norikyan: "Trust us, believe in us, we'll change everything..."

Here comes another dotted line. Well, yes, after so many disappointments the words "trust and believe" can only be used in the imperative mood, the emphasis is clear. As for "change”, is it about Nikol [Pashinyan] or garbage bins?

This slogan can be put this way, “I order you to imagine.”

Yervand Tarverdyan: "Give your heart to your Yerevan".

Give ice cream to children, yogurt to your cat, lunch to a neighbor, dinner to the enemy... and so on. But what this Tarverdyan of yours has to do with my Yerevan is unclear. I guess he meant that after the hearts are given, the votes will go to him too? Mmm…

Viktor Mnatsakanyan: "Friendly city!”

Honestly, I went over it in my head several times to pick on something, but, it’s quite a catchy slogan, I must admit. Of course, if it's not just about attracting tourists. It reminds me a bit of "child-centered school" and a little more of the line, "He is at least a million years away from Man" (a poem by Hovhannes Tumanyan). Or less. I don't know, I have never heard any political assessments regarding the current situation, they are not in the slogan either.

Nelli Harutyunyan, in the person of Natalia Arzakantsyan: "By the will of Yerevan residents, for the sake of Yerevan!"

The slogan is not bad, its neutral, slightly flattering and well worded. But, there is something to argue here. Are you from Yerevan? What kind of Yerevan girl are you? I am a true Yerevantsi... My Indian brother, put your moped away, we'll go to the polls once again to express our will... But who says that the will of a Yerevan resident is for the sake of Yerevan?

Tigran Khzmalyan: "Clean Yerevan: making Euro-repair of Yerevan and Armenia"

This is not a slogan, it’s a whole essay. This man is addicted to Europe, always and everywhere. But have you noticed that he is craving for Europe, but is doing Russian-style repairs?

Hayk Marutyan: "Let's continue, because we all need it".

Let's continue till we get to dark-black and light-white. And to add some oppositional salt to the propaganda, let's say that some of the “light white was wet”, otherwise everything was right and must continue.

David Khazhakyan: "Let’s move forward with a fresh breath."

It looks like a toothpaste add.

Suren Petrosyan: "Fight, Yerevan"

Suren Petrosyan is a respected man, at least because he traveled to Akhavno with his family and fought against the surrender of the village, which was eventually ceded.

Mane Tandilyan” "Let's change the future!”

Mane, you've already made us sick with your future. What should we change? There is no future with you, not at all.

Andranik Tevanyan: “Join us to bring about change!”

There is not much to say here. The focus is on joining. Incidentally, you can join online by filling out an application form.

And I am busy painting butterflies here because of the Yerevan City Council elections. At the same time, a person cannot boycott the elections alone. A boycotter and an indifferent citizen are in the same position here, as both of them have no voice.

A.V.