Christian Democrats smooth the way for government talks
By Mikheil Svanidze
Thursday, June 12
The Christian Democrats' memorandum is in some ways a watered-down version of demands issued by the eight-party opposition bloc in January, but leaders of the bloc, called the United Opposition, say they are no longer willing to negotiate with the government.
“I am skeptical about this memorandum. We gave the same demands to [then-parliamentary speaker] Nino Burjanadze during our hunger strike in [March], she promised to comply, but you know what happened,” leading United Opposition member Eka Beselia told the Messenger, referring to an episode when the government allegedly reneged on its promises to the opposition.
“We aren’t going to talk to either the National Movement or the Christian Democrats.”
Another coalition member was less sparing: the Christian Democrats are “collaborationists,” said Mamuka Katsitadze of the New Rights, a coalition member party.
The leader of the Labor Party, which won six seats in parliament, said there could be no talk of taking their seats until repeat parliamentary elections are held.
The Christian Democrats’ memorandum seeks concessions, most relatively minor, in the electoral and legal systems, in parliamentary procedure and in oversight of the media.
It notably asks for what is effectively an opposition veto of constitutional amendments, which formally require a two-thirds majority vote from MPs—something the ruling party can easily muster, holding nearly eight out of ten seats in parliament.
Christian Democratic Movement leader Giorgi Targamadze, who saw his recently-founded party win six seats by placing third behind the United Opposition and the ruling party in last month’s elections, said the memorandum would be a strong start to moving past post-vote deadlock. Many opposition leaders are vowing to boycott what they say was a fraudulently-elected parliament.
“We have no illusions that implementing this memorandum will create an oasis-like environment in Georgia for the opposition,” said Targamadze. “But we believe that agreement on most of its provisions is a serious precondition for developing democratic processes in Georgia and raising the efficiency of the opposition’s activities in parliament.”
Speaker of Parliament Davit Bakradze said the ruling party is ready to hash out an agreement to coax opposition leaders into parliament, with the memorandum as a starting point.
“We are ready to start dialogue within the framework of this memorandum, and principal agreements can be made between the government and the opposition willing to engage in the dialogue,” Bakradze said at a briefing yesterday.
The first talks took place yesterday evening between leaders of the ruling party and the Christian Democrats, plus two just-elected opposition MPs who have split from the United Opposition, Paata Davitaia and Dimitri Lortkipanidze.
Lortkipanidze said the negotiations would be a drawn-out process, with yesterday’s session just a start.
The door has been left open for more individual opposition politicians to join the talks, and a handful so far suggest they are considering the offer.
Gia Tortladze, who was elected to parliament on the United Opposition ticket but later left the bloc, said there is sense in negotiating.
“All parties must get over their ambitions, and stop labeling everyone who engages in dialogue a ‘traitor,’” Tortladze told the newspaper yesterday.
The United Opposition has given an ultimatum to politicians elected to parliament on its ticket: formally renounce their MP status tomorrow, or face expulsion from the coalition.
Tortladze said he approved of the Christian Democrats’ memorandum, as did Lortkipanidze, another recently-departed United Opposition member.
“Boycotting is an easy thing to do, but the normal political process is using all resources to reach a consensus,” Lortkipanidze said.
“It will never be too late to give up our MPs’ mandates.”