Opposition Plans to Hit the Streets
The opposition factions staged a walkout from the parliamentary session on May 23 as the parties fail to reach the consensus on administration of the general elections scheduled for November. The protesters promise to hit the streets to pressure the pro-governmental forces into compromise.
The leader of the New Rights David Gamkrelidze has initiated the walkout, protesting against the pro-governmental MPs, who showed up on the session, but did not register, thus blocking the decision-making due to the absence of quorum. The United Democrats, National Movement and Traditionalists supported the protest.
“We are leaving the session and calling our supporters to gather in front to the Parliament’s building on June 3 in a peaceful manifestation, to show the government that we want democratic elections” – Gamkrelidze said. This decision was agreed at a caucus of the parties beforehand.
“The deadlines [for the elections] are approaching. We have very little time left and still could not decide on such an important issue as the Election Code. Manifestation is not our goal, we just do not have any other choice” – leader of the United Democrats Zurab Zhvania commented after the walkout.
Chairman of the pro-governmental faction “Tanadgoma” Elguja Medzmariashvili said the protest is a “constitutional violation” not explaining the essence of the violation though. He said opposition acts irresponsibly, provoking disturbances in the country.
“Such statements may lead us to destabilization. I think it is incorrect to blame the government for attempts to impede the elections. The government wants democratic elections more than anybody else,” Medzmariasvhili said at the session.
David Gamkrelidze said the right to manifestations is explicitly protected by the Article 25 of the constitution. “I would remind the government that destabilization will start not on June 3, but if the elections are not free and fair” – Gamkrelidze said.
The parliament has already delayed voting on the amendments to the election code. On May 21 MP Vakhtang Khmaladze presented the results of the consultations between the opposition and pro-governmental factions, saying the agreement was reached on 128 out of 130 issues.
The sides agreed to abolish the complementary voter lists, for those who did not receive the voter notification or who were not in the pre-defined voter lists. The opposition has long argued that the complementary lists were easiest to manipulate for the election fraud. Parties have also agreed to allow peoples with physical disabilities who will not be able to go to voting districts, to use portable ballot boxes. It was also decided that persons who will be traveling from their permanent domicile to other places in Georgia on the election’s day, will not participate in the voting.
The sides have also reached a compromise on voting in the military units, as it was reported that the officers would push the soldiers into voting for the governmental parties. Khmaladze said that voting districts will be set up in the bases, in case there are more than 50 voters there on the election day. However, the district will be monitored by civil observers. All other persons in military service will vote in the nearest local voting district.
Despite important compromise, the most debated issue was not resolved: the parties still fail to agree on the rules of composition of the Central Election Commission.
Zurab Zhvania said, despite numerous proposals of the opposition “neither of suggestions brought any success.”
As the plenary session is not completed, the Parliament should convene in a special meeting that should be called by the president following the demand of at least 79 MPs. By announcing the manifestation two weeks in advance, unprecedented advance notice for the Georgian politics, the opposition tries consolidate the leverage and bring the pro-governmental factions back to the bargaining table.
Mikheil Saakashvili, leader of the United National Movement sounded upbeat about the prospects, saying no matter what is written in the election code, the government is destined to lose the elections.
“We will be able to replace this government in any case. They [the government] are sitting on an edge of a window seal. We are the united force, which will push them a little” Saakashvili told the journalists.
The days before June 3 are likely to be packed with official and unofficial partisan consultations. If the parties near the consensus on electoral issues, these should become know already during the coming week. Otherwise, the opposition will have to prove the extent of popular support to their agenda in a rally of June 3.
Tea Gularidze, Civil Georgia
