MP Quits Parliamentary Majority

Vladimer Papava, a deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee for finances and budget, said on November 6 he quitted the ruling National Movement party?s parliamentary faction.

Earlier he said that the authorities should meet thousands of protesters demand and hold parliamentary elections in April, instead of late 2008.

?I quit the parliamentary majority faction, but it does not mean that I plan to join any opposition faction,? MP Papava told Imedi TV.

Papava is the second lawmaker who broke ranks with the parliamentary majority and criticized authorities for a failure to compromise on elections date.

Guguli Magradze a lawmaker from the parliamentary majority said on November 4 that a demand by thousands of protesters to hold parliamentary elections in April was ?legally and morally justified.?

Meanwhile, protest rally, which continues for fifth successive day outside the parliament on November 6, welcomed lawmaker Vladimer Papava?s decision. ?We should stand firmly here and be sure more [ruling party MPs] will join [MP Papava?s] decision,? MP Zviad Dzidziguri of the Conservative Party told crowd of protesters.

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