Election campaigns get into full swing
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Monday, December 3
Ever since the November 7 crisis, Western eyes have been firmly fixed on Georgia, so the importance of a smooth, free and fair election process cannot be overemphasized. However, with under five weeks to go before voters head for the ballot box, the opposition are still complaining the country lacks the necessary conditions for fair elections.
Acting president Nino Burjanadze recently stated her personal commitment to ensuring the January elections show Georgia to be a successful democracy. “I will do my best to ensure that the elections are fair and democratic. No one should doubt this—inside, or outside, Georgia,” the newspaper Kvela Siakhle quoted her as saying.
But so long as Burjanadze fails to restore Imedi TV to air, her best will not be seen as good enough by those inside or outside the country.
The weekend saw foreign pressure on the administration over the Imedi issue stepped up as Polish newspaper editor and media activist Adam Michnik held talks with government and opposition leaders on behalf of the EU.
Michnik may succeed in helping to facilitate Imedi TV’s return to air, but this is only part of the opposition’s complaints.
They also criticize the fact that presidential hopeful Mikheil Saakashvili, who stood down from the presidency on November 25 to make way for the January 5 elections, appears still to be calling the shots in the administration. Last week, for instance, he “instructed” Tbilisi City Mayor, Gigi Ugulava, and Refugees and Resettlement Minister, Koba Subeliani, to hand over to IDPs state-owned property in which they have resided since the 1992-93 Abkhaz war.
The IDP issue is quickly becoming a cornerstone of Saakashvili’s campaign, and the opposition point out that for the race to be fair, he should be making promises, not instructing ministers.
At the same time, other presidential candidates have not exactly been pulling out all the stops in their campaigns: a typical campaign day usually consists of a couple of meetings with different voter groups it seems—a far cry from the tireless, countrywide campaigns that are seen in the US or the UK.
The opposition certainly face obstacles to campaigning. But there’s a lot more they could be doing to sell their policies. Accusations of dirty tactics aside, Saakashvili has a clear campaign platform: IDPs and social issues. Refugees and poor Georgians have everyday concerns at the forefront of their minds, and for them, clarity counts for a lot.
Acting president Nino Burjanadze recently stated her personal commitment to ensuring the January elections show Georgia to be a successful democracy. “I will do my best to ensure that the elections are fair and democratic. No one should doubt this—inside, or outside, Georgia,” the newspaper Kvela Siakhle quoted her as saying.
But so long as Burjanadze fails to restore Imedi TV to air, her best will not be seen as good enough by those inside or outside the country.
The weekend saw foreign pressure on the administration over the Imedi issue stepped up as Polish newspaper editor and media activist Adam Michnik held talks with government and opposition leaders on behalf of the EU.
Michnik may succeed in helping to facilitate Imedi TV’s return to air, but this is only part of the opposition’s complaints.
They also criticize the fact that presidential hopeful Mikheil Saakashvili, who stood down from the presidency on November 25 to make way for the January 5 elections, appears still to be calling the shots in the administration. Last week, for instance, he “instructed” Tbilisi City Mayor, Gigi Ugulava, and Refugees and Resettlement Minister, Koba Subeliani, to hand over to IDPs state-owned property in which they have resided since the 1992-93 Abkhaz war.
The IDP issue is quickly becoming a cornerstone of Saakashvili’s campaign, and the opposition point out that for the race to be fair, he should be making promises, not instructing ministers.
At the same time, other presidential candidates have not exactly been pulling out all the stops in their campaigns: a typical campaign day usually consists of a couple of meetings with different voter groups it seems—a far cry from the tireless, countrywide campaigns that are seen in the US or the UK.
The opposition certainly face obstacles to campaigning. But there’s a lot more they could be doing to sell their policies. Accusations of dirty tactics aside, Saakashvili has a clear campaign platform: IDPs and social issues. Refugees and poor Georgians have everyday concerns at the forefront of their minds, and for them, clarity counts for a lot.