Opposition MP Speaks of Elections

An opposition parliamentarian from the Republican Party said in an interview with the Georgian daily Rezonansi, published on August 22, that consultations among opposition parties will be renewed by the end of August to form an election bloc to jointly confront the ruling party in upcoming local self-governance elections tentatively scheduled for this December.

MP Berdzenishvili said that the initial idea of forming a single election bloc out of all seven opposition parties engaged in the recent consultations was impossible.

?The Labor Party has already announced that it will not join the bloc, and if it decides to participate in the elections it will run independently. The creation of an election bloc by the parliamentary opposition ? Republicans, New Rights, Conservatives and Industrialists – is quite possible,? MP Berdzenishvili said.

He also said that those opposition parties that agree on the creation of an election bloc will hold consultations with the Labor Party in an attempt to minimize confrontation between the opposition parties during the elections. In particular, the opposition election bloc will try not to nominate candidates in those election constituencies where the Labor Party?s nominations will run.

MP Berdzenishvili said that a fierce confrontation is anticipated between the authorities and the opposition during the local elections.

?Currently about one-third of voters have not yet decided whether to vote for the opposition or the authorities. This segment of our citizens will decide [the fate of elections],? MP Berdzenishvili said.

He also said that the parliamentary opposition will launch consultations by the end of August to discuss the possibility of putting an end to a boycott of parliamentary sessions. MPs from the New Rights, Industrialist, Conservative and Republican parties launched a boycott on March 31 demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili, direct elections of city mayors and regional governors, and the reform of the election system.

MP Berdzenishvili said that although none of these demands were met by the authorities, the boycotting tactic has at least ?pushed the issue of Georgia?s pseudo-democracy to the international level.?

?I think the policy of boycotting has fulfilled its mission, but has already exhausted its role? I think the opposition should return to Parliament?s Chamber,? he added.

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