Opposition MPs Consult on Memorandum on Joint Policies

The Democratic Front parliamentary faction, uniting lawmakers from the Republican and Conservative parties, has developed a memorandum which will be offered to two other opposition factions – the New Rights and Industrialists – for signing. The document outlines a joint strategy by the opposition parliamentarians, who have announced a boycott of the parliamentary sessions.

“Although we have already developed the document, until the memorandum is agreed with our political partners – the New Rights and the Industrialists – we can not unveil details,” MP Kakha Kukava of the Democratic Front said on April 5.
 
Reportedly, the memorandum will put forth demands related to the resignation of Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili; firm guarantees for fair and democratic local elections; and the direct elections of city mayors and regional governors.
 
Meanwhile, some opposition parliamentarians are holding separate consultations with Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze. On April 5 she met with MP Pikria Chikhradze of the New Rights party. MP Chikhradze said that Nino Burjanadze is concerned with the opposition’s decision to boycott parliamentary sessions. The Parliamentary Chairperson also met with MP Zurab Tkemaladze, leader of the Industrialists Party, on April 4.
 
Influential parliamentarian from the ruling National Movement party Giga Bokeria said that the opposition lawmakers’ decision to boycott the parliamentary sessions is a reflection of either their “political defeat” or proves that “the opposition is far removed from the political reality.”