Melkon Isagholian
Melkon Isagholian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Executive of the Syaran Commonality | |
| In office 6 August 2010 – 1 August 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Dragomir Zhelev |
| Succeeded by | Kire Steriovski |
| High Council Member | |
| In office 15 July 1988 – 5 August 2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 June 1960 Sarhadi, Hayreniky |
| Nationality | Syaran |
| Political party | Union Party |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Sarhadi |
Melkon Isagholian is a Syaran former politician who served as Executive of Syara from 2010 to 2012.
An ethnic Hayren, Isagholian was born in Sarhadi to Syara's Clans. Educated at the University of Sarhadi, Isagholian joined many other Hayren in supporting the Wardens during the Refusal War, where he served as a regimental runner. Following the war he successfully ran for office as a member of the High Council during it's inaugural election in 1988. Isagholian served for 22 years as a Councilmember in the Federal Council, one of a select few known within Syaran political cirles as the "elders". Following Syara's defeat in the Zemplen War and the resignation of Dragomir Zhelev, Isagholian was selected by members of the Union Party to serve as Executive. Isagholian was selected largely on the basis of stability, with the hope that his long tenure as Councilmember would provide much needed stability in Syara's highest office.
Much of Isagholian's administration was focused on dealing with the aftermath of the Zemplen War; Syara faced financial crisis in the wake of it's defeat, in addition it needed to deal with nearly 2 million wounded veterans and the loss of Zemplen, Imerti, and Armavir. Isagholian attempted to resolve Syara's dire financial situation with what became known as "shock programs"; rapid injections of cash into the Syaran money supply to spur economic growth in the hopes of restarting Syara's trade cycle and the flow of foreign currency. While successful in producing jobs desperately needed for the millions of recently discharged veterans, the drachma was soon beset by inflation, which the government struggled with through the rest of his term. In 2011 he controversially re-established diplomatic relations with Ruvelka, an act which drew sharp criticism from his own party but Isagholian defended as a necessary step towards post war recovery. Although his actions are generally credited with helping Syara avoid a full scale economic disaster, Isagholian was unable to prevent Syara from entering into a recession at the start of 2012 as Syara began trying to pay back it's extensive war debts. Dissolution with the Warden Way and lack of faith in the Unionists led Isagholian to lose the 2012 election to Federalist Kire Steriovski.
Public opinion polling of Isagholian has remained mix since he left office. Known as a "behind the scenes" type of person by most of his colleagues, Isagholian was perceived as camera shy and not well prepared with dealing with the publicity associated with the office of the Executive. His passivity and mild mannered demeanor clashed strongly with Syaran stereotypes for Hayren, which undermined his public image while in office. Isagholian retired from politics shortly after leaving office despite calls for him to return to the High Council.