Opposition Close to Deal on Boycott Strategy
Chairman of the opposition Democratic Front parliamentary faction MP Davit Zurabishvili said on April 6 that the key principles of the opposition’s memorandum have already been agreed between the three opposition parliamentary factions, adding that “some technical details” need to be agreed through further consultations.
“The memorandum should be ready by Tuesday [April 11], before the beginning of the parliamentary plenary sessions; however I do not rule out that it may be ready and signed earlier,” MP Zurabishvili told Civil Georgia on April 6.
The memorandum was developed by the Democratic Front parliamentary faction, uniting lawmakers from the Republican and Conservative parties, and then offered to two other opposition factions – the New Rights and Industrialists – for signing. The document outlines a joint strategy by the opposition parliamentarians, who announced a boycott of the parliamentary sessions after the parliamentary majority stripped Valery Gelashvili of the Republican Party of his MP credentials on March 31.
MP Zurabishvili refrained from speaking about the details of the memorandum; but reportedly the memorandum will put forth the demands related to the resignation of Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and reorganization the Interior Ministry; firm guarantees for fair and democratic local elections; and the direct elections of city mayors and regional governors.
“The demand for Merabishvili’s resignation, which was on the [opposition’s] agenda even before the boycott, will be reflected in the memorandum by all means; however, I cannot say in advance in which form it will be made – whether it will be a separate demand or will be included in the preamble of the memorandum,” Davit Zurabishvili said.
MP Zurab Tkemaladze, leader of the Industrialists Party, said on April 6, that “some terms” of the memorandum still need to be agreed on – in particular the timeframe for the boycott of the parliamentary sessions and parliamentary bureau sittings.
