New Opposition Parliamentary Faction Set Up

A new 17-member opposition parliamentary faction ? the Democratic Front – was set up on October 24.

The new faction unites 8 parliamentarians from the Conservative Party and 6 lawmakers from the Republican Party, three non-partisan MPs ? Davit Zurabishvili, Gia Tortladze who hav both recently quit the parliamentary majority – as well as former member of the New Rights opposition party Levan Gachechiladze.
 
Chairman of the Democratic Front Davit Zurabishvili said at the presentation of the new faction on October 24 that the opposition faction will be devoted to the principles of ?Rose Revolution?.
 
?We think that the principles and ideals of the November Rose Revolution have been neglected by the present authorities. So, in our opinion, the establishment of such a revolutionary opposition is not only necessary, but it is also our obligation,? David Zurabishvili said.
 
Zviad Dzidziguri, one of the leaders of the Conservatives party, said that the Democratic Front will become an alternative to the authorities ?both inside and outside the Parliament.? 
 
Davit Berdzenishvili of the Republican Party noted that the faction will be ?constructive and if necessary radical towards the authorities.? ?We will fight to clean the country from the remnants of Shevardnadze?s regime,? he added.
 
Members of the parliamentary majority have downplayed this new faction in the Parliament, noting that it will fail to become ?a real alternative to the authorities.? 

Creation of this faction will grant a small group of opposition parliamentarians, who had previously not been united in a faction, certain political privileges in the Parliament – including the right to legislative initiatives, right to vote at the Parliament?s bureau (body which determines the parliamentary sessions? schedule), guaranteed seats in the committees, investigation commissions and parliamentary delegations.

Until now there was only one opposition faction in the Parliament  – which unites 17 lawmakers from the coalition of the New Rights and Industrialist parties.

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