President Still Fears to Share Power

Failed Talks on Constitutional Amendments 

President’s meeting with the leaders of the Parliamentary factions of July 26 revealed that the President would not allow reduction of his influence. He will do everything to use Presidential term to strengthen his power to full possible extent and achieve the two main goals set at the summit of the renovated Citizens Union of Georgia Party: victory in the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.

During its session in Kobuleti, Adjarian Autonomous Republic the Parliamentary leadership (Bureau) discussed a draft of the constitutional changes, elaborated by the Industrialists faction, which considers creation of the Cabinet of the Ministers. Before discussing the legislative initiative at the Autumn Sessions, the Bureau decided to discuss the draft of the Industrialists with the President as well. The issue of abolishing the institute of the President’s Representatives in the regions was raised again.

The Parliament members and leaders of almost every faction were expressing their dissatisfaction after the meeting with the President. Eduard Shevardnadze did not share the Parliament’s position towards the issues. “The meeting was held with only purpose to create an illusion that it could have meant something,” told Elene Tevdoradze, member of the Democrats faction, to the journalists.

Last April President himself suggested MPs creation of the Ministers’ Cabinet, which would have increased his rights and powers. Due to negative approach of the majority of the Parliament members to the issue, voting to it never went on agenda. Despite this, President told the Parliament members that if Industrialists’ draft contradicts principles of his draft, he would veto it.

Vakhtang Khamaldze, member of the Industrialists, thinks that although President enjoys support of more than one third of the Parliament, his initiative will not have enough supporters. “If such amendments are adopted, we will have at least authoritarian governance or even dictatorship in the worst case” – Khmaladze believes.

According to the present Constitution, the Parliament is able to overrule President’s veto if the legislative initiative gets minimum of 141 votes in the secondary ballots. However, Georgian experts believe that with present allocation of powers in the Parliament, acquiring 141 votes is almost impossible.

The opposition forces believe that the President’s retinue is actively concerned with transferring the power to Shevardnadze’s successor. They say that President’s intention to reduce the Parliament’s role is most alarming.

“President reminded us once again that everything that matters for him is his warm chair and small retinue he can play with as puppets” – Elene Tevdoradze told journalists.

As the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections approach, rift between the opposition and the Parliament is becoming more and more apparent. Shevardnadze and his retinue have two options to recover their image: improve the situation rapidly and dramatically or present the President as a savior of the country on the background of internal tensions.

Despite resolute, from the first glance, actions of President’s new favorite – Avtandil Jorbenadze, economic situation is less likely to improve in the nearest future and shortfall of 70 million Lari (approximately USD 34 million) in the state budget is a clear indicator of this.

President’s retinue is more expected to escalate political and/or crime situation like it was in the beginning of1990-ies, so Shevardnadze would be an only man who will restore the order. Opposition forces believe that this scenario is very realistic. And to prove this they refer to appearance of small armed groups in various regions and pardoning of the leaders of former paramilitary organization “Mkhedrioni”. Right after release these two immediately opposed Saakashvili and Zhvania and declared that they will not let them to come to power.

Leader of the Democrats faction Gia Baramidze says that the President is trying to create a situation, which will guarantee that Shevardnadze’s people will remain in power. His aim is to create a structure that will allow him to control the political situation and the government system in the future too.

Along with these attempts of the government, the opposition parties are uniting around the common principles and aim at creating the new rules of political game and preventing criminalization of the government. Success of the government and stability of the Georgian political system will depend on the strategy of these opposition forces.

By Revaz Bakhtadze, Civil Georgia