Opposition MPs Set Conditions for New Constitution

Three opposition lawmakers announced on January 11 that they welcome President Saakashvili?s calls for a dialogue on the drafting of a new constitution, but under the condition that the new constitution will be adopted before 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.

On January 10 President Saakashvili urged opposition politicians to find a broad consensus on the launching of the development of a new constitution. He said the creation of a new constitution will be a ?long-term process which may take years.?

Opposition parliamentarians Kaka Kukava and Zviad Dzidziguri, both from the Conservative party, and Koka Guntsadze, a non-partisan opposition lawmaker, held a joint news conference to voice their position over the President?s initiative.

?We are ready for cooperation and dialogue with the authorities over such important issues including the distribution of powers, creation of a genuine model of checks and balances, cutting of presidential powers, and the creation of a truly independent judiciary system. We are ready for a partnership over all issues that will contribute to justice and the protection of human rights in this country. We hope that this initiative by the President is not just another imitation of democracy, but a sincere willingness to establish real democratic values,? MP Koka Guntsadze said at a joint news conference with his two opposition colleagues.

But MP Zviad Dzidziguri expressed fear that President Saakashvili?s initiative may be triggered by a desire to retain power after a likely second term in office expires in 2013.

?After the new constitution [goes into force], which may establish the parliamentary republic, he [Saakashvili] may again retain the leader?s position through becoming the Prime Minister? So our position in this regard is as follows: we are ready to work on a new constitution, but under the condition that this new constitution will be drafted before the 2008 [presidential and parliamentary] elections and under the condition that this new constitution will go into force right after these elections,? MP Dzidziguri said.

The opposition New Rights party has also expressed its readiness to cooperate in drafting the new constitution, but warned that they will not engage in any consultations if the initiative only serves for the creation of ?an imitation of democracy? by the authorities.

MP Mamuka Katsitadze of the New Rights said on January 10 that one of the party?s major demands will be a decrease of the current  percentage of votes necessary for a party to gain seats in the Parliament, from 7% to 5%. The Council of Europe has repeatedly criticized the 7% threshold as excessively high.

The opposition Industrialist party has also welcomed the President’s initiative and expressed readiness to cooperate with the authorities over drafting the new constitution.

But the newly created opposition party National Forum announced on January 11 that the government is trying to use the opposition for an imitation of democracy and called on the opposition parties not to cooperate with the authorities.

?The government has already imposed undemocratic constitutional amendments on us and now they want to impose a new constitution. So it will be my request towards the opposition not to hold this so-called dialogue with the authorities under the current conditions,? Kakha Shartava, leader of the National Forum, said at a news conference on January 11.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)