48 Days later: Political landscape remains unchanged
The Georgian political situation has remained largely the same for the last 48 days. The ruling UNM headed by president Saakashvili, the cooperative parliamentary opposition and the extra-parliamentary opposition have yet to reach any tangible agreement. There is still a ray of hope that if the ruling party, parliamentary opposition and certain extra-parliamentary parties launch successful dialogue over constitutional and other legislative changes, the crisis can resolved - to the benefit of the Georgian political system if new checks and balances are approved.
Overall, the political scene is stable in the country with confrontations happening now only occasionally. The tactics of street blocking appeared non-conducive for the peaceful rallies in the country. On May 21 the opposition leaders and activists blocked the capital city’s two key roads on both banks of Mtkvari (Kura) River in protest against, what the opposition said was, “an illegal seizure” of cars belonging to its activists and supporters. The blocking of the traffic lasted for over an hour. There were several cases of verbal argument between some opposition activists and several citizens, who were complaining about inconveniences created by the opposition’s march, which blocked the roads. An explosion, apparently caused with a hand-grenade occurred at the Tbilisi-base pro-opposition, Maestro TV, shattering windows and damaging the television station’s iron gate at about 3am on Monday. No one was injured. The Interior Ministry said that the police had requested from the television station to hand over footage from CCTV camera installed outside the station’s office, but Maestro TV said “they do not possess the recording. Glonti explained that technical capabilities of the station did not allow them to record and store footage from CCTV camera.
Meanwhile, President Saakashvili seems open for more inclusive decision-making in the country. The President announced about plans to set up, what he called, a public council to help society to have its say “in decision-making” and in legislative activities. Speaking at a ceremony of awarding a group of scientists, writers, painters with a state award, Saakashvili said that an advisory body would be empowered with the right of initiating bills. He said that the planned public council would involve representatives of various sectors – science, culture, business, education “to give recommendations to the executive and legislative bodies.” Parliamentary minority group nominated Avtandil Demetrashvili, a former Chairman of Constitutional Court, to chair the commission on constitutional reform on May 22. Mr. Demetrashvili said that he was in favor of “a balanced system, which will rule out usurpation of power by any branches of the government… A strong president as an arbiter and of course a strong parliament.” The lawmakers from the parliamentary minority group underlined, that they had agreed at a meeting on May 20 that draft of new constitution should be tabled no later than December 31, 2009. Unlike the opposition parties, behind the ongoing protests, the parliamentary minority in which the Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM) is a leading party, agreed to accept the authorities proposal and engage in work of the planned commission on constitutional reform. The Parliamentary minority also involves two lawmakers from On Our Own party - Paata Davitaia and Dimitri Lortkipanidze; one lawmaker from National-Democratic Party, as well as MP Gia Tortladze.
In the meantime, the opposition parties behind the ongoing protest rallies formally notified the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office on May 21 about with their intention to continue rallies at least till June 26. Even though there are differences on tactics among various extra-parliamentary opposition leaders, “tactical differences” have not resulted, as stated, in disagreement, over the major goal – holding of early presidential and parliamentary elections; The questions arise regarding the selection of single extra-parliamentary opposition leader, the approach to dialogue by moderate and radical extra-parliamentary groups etc. No specific future action plans are yet aired. Irakli Alasania, leader of Alliance for Georgia who plans to create his own party, for example, emphasized the opposition should continue its campaign for early polls by employing a three-pronged tactics: involving exploring new ways of protests and focusing more on provinces; engaging in a meaningful dialogue with the authorities and “the third front” – intensifying contacts with international community.
Protesters gathered on May 26 on the Boris Paichadze National Stadium for a rally organized by some of the extra-parliamentary opposition parties (the all-seated national stadium has capacity of up to 55,000). Protesters are expected to later march towards the Rustaveli Avenue outside the Parliament in what the opposition called would be “a public parade” aimed at both expressing protest and marking the Independence Day. The National Forum, a party which was among ongoing protest organizers, stated earlier it would join the May 26 protest events, but not in a capacity of organizer. The party cited differences with some other opposition parties on the future tactics. Alliance for Freedom, which initially was among protest organizer parties, also mentioned on May 26 that it would quit the group. The opposition proposals prior to May 26 which aimed at, per extra-parliamentary opposition statement, possible start of the process of “achieving a national consent and strengthening the Georgian statehood” was not met. While keeping the President’s resignation as a top demand, opposition parties, behind the ongoing protests, also put forth number of other demands. In a joint statement released on May 18, protest rallies’ organizer parties called for resignation of two powerful cabinet members – Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili. The statement says that two new ministers should be appointed “through the agreement with the opposition.” The move should secure “political impartiality” of the law enforcement agencies, according to the statement. In other demands, the opposition also called for replacement of Chairman of Supreme Court, Kote Kublashvili, and Chairman of Central Election Commission, Levan Tarkhnishvili, with nominees agreed with the opposition parties. The opposition also offered holding of early parliamentary elections, simultaneously with the direct election of Tbilisi Mayor, in October, 2009 and also a plebiscite – a legally non-biding referendum, on forms of future constitutional arrangement. In respect of media, the opposition demanded appointment of new general director of public broadcaster, as well as members of its board of trustees through the agreement with the opposition. It also demanded “return of Imedi TV to its legal owner,” referring to late tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili’s family.
And back to the Georgian Orthodox Church and politics - Giorgi Gachechiladze, a singer and an activist who turned into informal leader of the ongoing protests, told thousands of protesters on the national stadium to march towards the Holy Trinity Cathedral for an advice from Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II.
