Opposition MPs Slightly Soften Stance over Boycott

The opposition Democratic Front parliamentary faction, which unites MPs from the Republican and Conservative parties, has slightly softened its stance and proposed on May 16 a truncated list of demands for the authorities to meet. Members of the faction said they will cease boycotting parliamentary sessions if their demands are met by the authorities.

The Democratic Front proposed draft laws on reforms to the election system, envisaging direct elections of city mayors and regional governors, and the creation of an interim investigation commission which will probe into high-profile criminal cases.

MPs from the opposition New Rights, Democratic Front and Industrialist factions launched a boycott on March 31 after the parliamentary majority stripped Valery Gelashvili of the Republican Party of his MP credentials. One of the major demands of the opposition had previously been the resignation of Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili, although this demand was not put forth on the list of recently unveiled demands by the Democratic Front parliamentary faction.
 
“If the authorities agree on a dialogue regarding these issues, we will cease boycotting and return to the parliamentary chamber,” MP Zviad Dzidziguri, who recently replaced MP Davit Zurabishvili at the position of Chairman of the Democratic Front faction, said at a news conference.
 
But the parliamentary majority members have already downplayed the Democratic Front’s proposals.