It Has to Be Said: In Focus

In this episode of “It Has to Be Said”, Maria Titizian reflects on the opening days of Armenia's newly elected parliament and asks whether its members are ready to move beyond political theater and get to work. Elections are only one measure of democracy. What matters just as much is what happens afterward: how parliament legislates, holds government accountable and addresses the everyday challenges that shape people's lives. In this episode: • Why political theater may generate viral clips but weakens public confidence in democratic institutions • The responsibilities of both the governing majority and the opposition in a healthy democracy • Why governing is about more than responding to geopolitical crises • How stronger institutions, accountability and effective legislation improve citizens' everyday lives • Why Armenia's external challenges cannot become an excuse for neglecting the work of building a more capable state