Zourabichvili Articulates Position on Election Tactics in Paper Article

Leader of the newly established opposition party Georgia?s Way and ex-Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said in an article published by the daily 24 Saati (24 Hours) on June 8 that she says ‘no’ to what is known to be a mechanical unification of the opposition parties on the eve of local self-governance elections, as she is not going to make any deals with the current opposition parties to just gain seats or positions in the local self-governance bodies.

?I have set up this party for those people who think that the current government in Georgia has frustrated [voters’] expectations and who think that the opposition as well is failing to meet the demands of what is known as new politics and the building of a new Georgia,? Salome Zourabichvili said in the article.

Salome Zourabichvili recently announced her ambition to run for the position of Tbilisi Mayor in the upcoming elections. The rest of the opposition parties are calling for the nomination of a single candidate. MP Koba Davitashvili, leader of the Conservative Party, who also announced his intentions to run for the Mayor?s position, said he is ready to give up these ambitions and support Zourabichvili if the she agrees ton unify the opposition parties into an election coalition. The New Rights opposition party has also joined this call by MP Davitashvili. The Republican Party is also in favor of nominating a single candidate. The radical opposition Labor Party is calling for a boycott of the local elections. But Salome Zourabichvili has rejected all of these proposals.

?It was unimaginable for me to launch my political career by striking deals with those parties which have failed to secure the public’s confidence? How is it possible to withdraw one’s own candidacy in favor of a person whose ideas you do not even know and whose ideas you may not even agree with [referring to MP Davitashvili?s proposal],? Zourabichvili writes.

?I say ‘No’ to these kinds of false alliances and coalitions and I am sure the majority of population says ‘No’ as well. If the price of this [tactic] is losing the local self-governance elections, so be it.?

?Because I am sure ? and I hope society shares this position ? that a coalition or making certain deals with these [political parties] would mean the continuation of a policy which has brought nothing but destruction to Georgia. Not a single position ? neither the [position of] Mayor nor any other ? is worth giving up my own principles,? she added.

Zourabichvili said that she established Georgia?s Way with the goal ?to bring together a disunited society.? 

?That is why we are speaking about a coalition government in which we are ready to involve everyone in order to overcome this crisis,? Zourabichvili added.

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