Monday, October 22, 2007, #201 (1468)

New parliamentary faction off to rocky start as hospitalized member resigns
By Messenger Staff

A newly announced parliamentary faction will go ahead despite the surprise resignation of one of its founding MPs, Imedi TV reported Sunday evening.

Valeri Gelbakhiani unveiled the “Our Georgia” faction at the Tbilisi Marriott on October 19, saying it would concentrate on economic and agricultural issues—while endorsing a manifesto published last week by the country’s opposition coalition.

“We want the government to realize the need for dialogue and compromise... The people should know where we stand. We support the principles of the opposition’s manifesto,” he said.
The following day it emerged that Merab Khurtsidze—the only ruling party member in the faction—intends to resign from parliament, raising doubt as to the future of the faction.

Parliamentary factions are constitutionally required to have at least ten MPs.
However, it was reported last night that independent MP Gia Meparishvili is likely to join Our Georgia, breathing new life into the faction.

There remains confusion over why Khurtsidze, whose has been undergoing treatment in a Tbilisi hospital for the past few days, is stepping down as an MP.

Fellow faction member Gogi Tsulaia, who announced Khurtsidze’s intention to resign, claimed Khurtsidze was dropping out “because of pressure exerted on him.”

“He is also frightened. I don’t know. He’s not saying anything. He’ll probably say something himself after he leaves hospital,” Tsulaia told Mze TV.

Responding to Tsulaia’s claims, majority MP Vakhtang Balavadze suggested that Khurtsidze had actually been pressured into joining the faction, and that he had not informed the ruling majority faction of any intention to leave.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Khurtsidze confirmed that he would submit his resignation to parliament but declined to give details.
“Let us speak about the rest when I leave hospital. Excuse me, but I feel very bad,” he told Mze TV.
Talks are reportedly underway to recruit Jumber Patiashvili, a former first secretary of the Georgian Communist Party.

Repeated attempts to reach faction members on Sunday were unsuccessful.
Messenger staff journalist Anna Kamushadze contributed to this article.



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