Consultations Underway, as Opposition Threatens Boycott

The Democratic Front (uniting lawmakers from the Republican and Conservative parties), New Rights and Industrialists parliamentary opposition factions are holding separate consultations with each other on April 4 in order to outline a joint policy regarding their decision to boycott parliamentary sessions.

The opposition lawmakers decided to resort to a boycott after the parliamentary majority stripped Valeri Gelashvili of the Republican Party of his MP credentials on March 31 over alleged business activities.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze held consultations on April 4 with MP Zurab Tkemaladze, the leader of the Industrialist Party, in an attempt to convince the Industrialists to say ‘no’ to boycott.

MP Tkemaladze said after talks that the Parliamentary Chairperson is ?very much concerned? over the existing situation and expressed readiness to meet representatives of the opposition parliamentary factions to find a solution to the problem.

Some opposition parliamentarians said on April 4 that the opposition parliamentary factions plan to sign a memorandum in the next few days, setting an ultimatum for the authorities and parliamentary majority. If agreed on by all the opposition factions, the memorandum will reportedly list demands related to the resignation of Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and direct elections of the Tbilisi Mayor. Some opposition parliamentarians insist that they should stop boycotting the parliamentary sessions only if their demands are met by the authorities.

?If the authorities take steps towards meeting public demands [to ensure fair elections], we will naturally cease the boycotting,? MP Koka Guntsadze of the New Rights said on April 4.

?Speaking in the language of ultimatums is senseless. We will be glad if the parliamentary opposition returns to the Parliament chamber. However, they have the right to make a choice and they can ignore the sessions,? MP Givi Targamadze of the ruling National Movement party said.
 
Reportedly, three opposition factions are holding separate consultations because the New Rights refused to hold face-to-face talks with their former political partners from the Industrialist Party and the Democratic Front faction had to act as a mediator between them. 
 
Although lawmakers from the Industrialist Party met with with Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze, opposition MPs from the Democratic Front downplayed the importance of the talks with Burjanadze.

?Meeting with the Parliamentary Chairperson is senseless, because in reality the Chairperson of this Parliament is President Saakashvili? I think those rumors saying that Saakashvili constantly blackmails Burjanadze by threatening to arrest her husband [Badri Bitsadze, chief of the Georgian Border Guard Department] or her father [Anzor Burjanadze, a businessmen], are true,? MP Zviad Dzidziguri of the Democratic Front said.

In response, Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said that it is not her style to comment on ?insulting accusations.? ?It is not my method to insult my political opponents,? she told reporters.

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