Labor Party Wants its Leader to Run for Presidency

The Labor Party has announced its intention to nominate its leader, Shalva Natelashvili, to run in the January 5 snap presidential elections.

?The Labor Party?s political council [the party?s decision-making body] has decided to nominate Shalva Natelashvili as a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections,? Soso Shatberashvili of the Labor Party said at a news conference on November 12.

The General Prosecutor?s Office said on November 9 that Natelashvili would face charges relating to espionage and conspiracy to overthrow the government. The next day, however, it softened its stance and said ?investigators have decided to question Natelashvili as a witness.? President Saakashvili said on November 10 that Natelashvili would not be arrested and he could ?freely run for the presidency.?

Natelashvili, party activists say, was ?poisoned with tear gas? on November 7, when riot police dispersed demonstrators, and was undergoing medical treatment at an undisclosed location. ?He will make a statement for local and international media in the next few days,? Shatberashvili said.

The Labor Party?s announcement is a severe blow to the unity of the ten-party opposition coalition. Other leaders from the coalition said on November 12 that they still had not decided on a united presidential candidate.

Earlier signs of disunity emerged on November 10, when only five opposition parties (with two of them from outside the coalition) launched talks with the authorities. The seven other members of the by now fast disintegrating opposition bloc seem to have been sidelined.

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