Dismissal of Salome Zourabichvili from the Foreign Minister?s position and the following developments are a dominant theme in Friday?s Georgian newspapers. Many papers suggest that by dismissing Zourabichvili the authorities have created an influential political figure able to compete in the elections.
Daily 24 Saati (24 Hours) notes that that this scandal was marked by ?several strange things.? ?At first, unlike many Georgian Ministers, Zourabichvili did not file for resignation, but was sacked. This means that she refused to compromise? Although she could have allied with certain influential groups, existing within the ruling elite, but it would have been a very long and hard way full of intrigues. So Zourabichvili decided not to compromise her principles,? commentary published by the 24 Saati reads.
The paper also notes the fact that the pro-governmental parliamentary majority was very unanimous in its uncompromising demand to sack Zourabichvili, which makes the paper suggest that this campaign against Zourabichvili was directed ?from above.?
The paper says that the recent developments also revealed that ?Shevardnadze-style formula to demonstrate foreign policy success as the President?s merit? is still in practice. The paper refers to the authorities? attempts to downplay Salome Zourabichvili?s role in a successful talks with Russia, which resulted in an agreement to withdraw Russian military bases from Georgia.
The paper also finds it ?strange? that the parliamentarians accused Zourabichvili of ?unconstructive cooperation? with the Parliament. ?The ex-Foreign Minister, unlike many of her colleagues [the Ministers] appeared in the Parliament immediately after the parliamentarians? calls. Recently she even appeared in front of the parliamentarians twice in 10 days and reported to the lawmakers on the country?s foreign policy,? 24 Saati writes, adding that Zourabichvili?s dismissal does not mean her downfall ?and a huge rally in her support was a clear demonstration of this.?
Daily Rezonansi (Resonance) writes that the opposition parties have launched a ?hunt? for Salome Zourabichvili, because of the latter?s ?high popularity.? The paper quotes analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze, who says that Zourabichvili has a chance to further increase her popularity. ?But this will depend on her future political moves, with whom she will ally and who will be in her political team,? the analyst says.
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