Two Parties Mull over Nominating Ex-State Minister for Tbilisi Mayor
The Conservative and Republican opposition parties are considering the possibility of nominating ex-State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava as a candidate for the Tbilisi mayoral race, Georgian media sources reported on August 30.
?If we agree on Giorgi Khaindrava?s nomination I can only welcome this decision,? Tina Khidasheli of the Republican Party told Imedi television on August 30.
?Khaindrava has the most chances to be nominated as the single candidate,? said MP Davit Zurabishvili, a member of the parliamentary faction Democratic Front, which unites MPs from the Republican and Conservative parties.
Ex-State Minister Khaindrava himself has not yet commented. He was sacked from the cabinet in July after a confrontation with Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili.
Meanwhile, the New Rights party plans to hold consultations with influential financial and media tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili in an attempt to convince him to run in the Tbilisi mayoral race.
?If Patarkatsishvili agrees, we [the New Rights] will run in the elections independently without teaming up with other opposition parties,? MP Manana Nachkebia of the New Rights party said on August 30.
The Industrialist opposition party announced on August 30 that its founder Gogi Topadze will run for the Tbilisi mayoral race.
Topadze will challenge ruling National Movement party?s nomination, current Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava, and ex-Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili in the elections scheduled for October 5. Other opposition parties have not yet officially nominated their candidates.
