Saakashvili Speaks on Opposition

Despite the ruling party’s overwhelming majority in Parliament, President Saakashvili has reiterated his willingness to include the opposition in both legislative and government decision-making processes.

“They [the opposition] have been offered the vice-speaker positions, as well as posts in parliamentary committees,” Saakashvili said in an interview with Rustavi 2 TV late on June 9. “I have offered them positions in the Georgian government and if they want them, the offer remains open.”

Saakashvili also said that in spite of four years of “painful reforms” and “mistakes made” by the authorities, voters had shown “wisdom” and “rationality” in electing the ruling party by such an overwhelming majority. “This confirms the absolute unity of the people,” he said.

“But parties that overcame the 5% threshold should have access to the levers in the parliament and those with only 1% or 2% should also be involved in the governance of the country in various ways. There is no alternative.”

He maintained that the opposition would have done much better in the elections if it hadn’t run a “negative campaign.”

“Unfortunately, they [the opposition] ran a very wrong election campaign, because focusing only on the negative is not correct,” he said. “I told this to Levan Gachechiladze [co-leader of the opposition coalition] during our latest conversation, a couple of months ago. I told him: Levan, the more hunger strikes you hold  – it was just before the opposition’s hunger strike – the more you will be destroyed; believe me, don’t do it; I really want what’s good for you.”

“I told him – focus on social issues, concentrate on what the people suffer most of all and some of them will follow you. He, however, probably thought that I was trying to trick him; but I was being honest… He, however, did not believe me.”

He also said that he wanted to have “constructively and strong” opposition.