Speculation on Patarkatsishvili’s ‘Political Ambitions’
There has been frenzied media and political speculation concerning the political ambitions of Badri Patarkatsishvili, a business tycoon, following remarks he made after the arrest of ex-Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili.
He said in an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant on September 27 that he would “stand beside people” if there were mass rallies in Georgia to protest the arrest of the ex-defense minister.
Giga Bokeria, an influential lawmaker from the ruling National Movement Party, acknowledged that Patarkatsishvili had, like any other citizen, the right to political expression. He thought, however, that the business tycoon had no intention of becoming politically involved.
Speaking live on Rustavi 2 TV on September 30, Bokeria suggested that Patarkatsishvili wanted to influence the political course of events in Georgia, but at the same time remain in the shadows, like he had done during the Shevardnadze era.
“For this reason he always wanted the government and the state to be weaker,” Bokeria said.
Davit Kirkitadze, a lawmaker from the ruling party, said on October 2 that Patarkatsishvili had in the past had several opportunities of starting a political career. “But I really do not know what are his plans for now,” he told Rustavi 2 TV.
Last year, after several months of speculation and with encouragement from the New Rights Party, Patarkatsishvili decided against running for the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office in the October 2006 local elections.
Davit Usupashvili, the leader of the opposition Republican Party, said that Patarkatsishvili had always been an active public figure even without actively engaging in politics.
“I have no information about his plans,” Usupashvili told Rustavi 2 TV, “but the active participation of Patarkatsishvili and other businesspeople in the on-going processes can only be a positive step towards the promotion of healthy political life.”
Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, the leader of the opposition Freedom Party, said that Patarkatsishvili was actually already indirectly engaged in politics, as occasionally he made political statements.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)