Political clashes bode ill for parliamentary elections
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Wednesday, March 19
Parliamentary elections, which once offered a chance to soothe inflamed political nerves with a power-balancing vote, are now more likely to spark more street rallies.
President Saakashvili is likely to name the exact election date when he returns from the US, keeping the opposition guessing and political machinations in limbo.
Some in the opposition speculate that May 25 will be the date, immediately before independence day celebrations. Like Saakashvili’s January 25 inauguration, the accompanying military parades will preclude any protests in the city center.
And there will be protests. Sensible politicians on both sides have every incentive to compete in elections which are both fair and perceived to be fair. But that would require a political consensus which is now far out of reach.
For a brief, optimistic spell, the opposition was sitting at the bargaining table with the government, and Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze was hailed as a moderating go-between for the reelected Saakashvili and the fuming opposition.
Now, the ruling party has unilaterally reformed the electoral system and opposition MPs are on hunger strike demanding Burjanadze’s resignation, among a slew of other implausible concessions. With just two months until the election, chances are slim to none of a reconciliation born out of the country’s better interests.
Many observers, including the International Crisis Group, deem it likely we’ll see more street protests after the elections. It may be too late to head off those precipitous circumstances, but common sense and responsibility can avert another crisis.
President Saakashvili is likely to name the exact election date when he returns from the US, keeping the opposition guessing and political machinations in limbo.
Some in the opposition speculate that May 25 will be the date, immediately before independence day celebrations. Like Saakashvili’s January 25 inauguration, the accompanying military parades will preclude any protests in the city center.
And there will be protests. Sensible politicians on both sides have every incentive to compete in elections which are both fair and perceived to be fair. But that would require a political consensus which is now far out of reach.
For a brief, optimistic spell, the opposition was sitting at the bargaining table with the government, and Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze was hailed as a moderating go-between for the reelected Saakashvili and the fuming opposition.
Now, the ruling party has unilaterally reformed the electoral system and opposition MPs are on hunger strike demanding Burjanadze’s resignation, among a slew of other implausible concessions. With just two months until the election, chances are slim to none of a reconciliation born out of the country’s better interests.
Many observers, including the International Crisis Group, deem it likely we’ll see more street protests after the elections. It may be too late to head off those precipitous circumstances, but common sense and responsibility can avert another crisis.