Four Republican MPs Quit Ruling Coalition
Four Republican MPs announced on June 30 that they have quit the ruling National Movement-Democrats parliamentary majority. Their actions follow their accusations that authorities took part in ballot-rigging during the June 20 local elections in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.
“We quit the majority because of ballot-rigging in Adjara. We also disagree with the ruling coalition regarding the draft law over the constitutional powers of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic,” MP Davit Berdzenishvili, the leader of the Republican Party said at the parliamentary session on June 30.
The Republican Party had six MPs in the Georgian Parliament through the party-list of the ruling party: Davit Berdzenishvili, Ivliane Khaindrava, Levan Berdzenishvili, Roman Gotsiridze, Teimuraz Nergadze and Nugzar Mgeladze. Two of the Republican MPs chair parliamentary committees – Levan Berdzenishvili, who chairs the Committee on Science and Education, and Roman Gotsiridze, who chairs the Committee for Budget and Finances.
MPs Davit Berdzenishvili, Ivliane Khaindrava, Levan Berdzenishvili and Teimuraz Nergadze all quit the ruling party; two others, however, will remain in with the ruliing party.
As a result of his resignation, Levan Berdzenishvili will lose his chairmanship of the parliamentary committee for Education and Science, leaving Roman Gotsiridze as the only Republican Party representative to chair a committee.
The Republicans joined President Saakashvili’s party National Movement in 2002.
Disagreement between the former allies became vivid after the Republicans decided to run for the Adjara elections separately from the ruling party. As a result, the Republicans will occupy only two seats in the 30-member Adjarian legislative body.
The Republicans condemned the June elections as rigged and accused the authorities of carrying out policies similar to those employed by deposed ex-Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze.
The Republicans also criticized the proposed draft law over the distribution of powers between the central government and the Adjara Autonomous Republic, which was passed by the Parliament during their first hearing.
The Republicans claim that the draft law downgrades Adjara’s rights and imposes presidential rule in the region.
