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THE GEORGIAN TIMES: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION LISTS LEAVE VOTERS SURPRISED
The Parliamentary election marathon is in full swing and the date for registering party lists has already passed. The Georgian population has become highly politicized as society is glued to their televisions watching as top-rated shows debate the values, visions, goals and tasks of political parties and organizations. Unfortunately, most often the TV audience has to watch bickering between politicians rather than real discussions on party ideologies. Is it a result of personal incompatibility of political leaders and a misbalance of party programs or a peculiarity of Georgian political culture?
The Georgian Times and many voters have been wondering, what the main goals of those political entities running in the May 21 parliamentary elections are. What do they have in common and what are their differences? Do their views and desires correspond to dominant social values?
What do voters think?
Nika L, 35, is displeased with the election lists submitted by the political parties: “Will we ever live in a country with normal competition conditions among political parties when there will be no Communist party- Union of Citizens- National Movement and a supplement of the state supplement using state resources? Will a time ever come when big serious political parties will be formed instead of a coalition of isolated inefficient parties?”
Lia C, 26, thinks that it will take at least 40 years until new faces will appear in Georgian politics: “People whose biographies will not be spoiled by an obscure past and those who will be more or less acceptable for society.”
“I heard that Gia Arsenishvili is included in the list of ruling party. In Shevardnadze’s period he was Kakheti governor, then a state minister. I though that he quit politics. There are many political ‘corpses’ among the ruling party candidates,” Malkhaz K., 43, said.
“Unfortunately, Georgia does not have party traditions. Almost all parties depend on separate leaders. It is the general picture and time is needed for improvement. Nowadays, people join political parties and appear on the election lists not because of their particular positions and visions but more due to strong leadership. If the leader is strong, members may become MPs and gain favorable positions,” Maia A, 50, explains.
“In case of the majority lists we choose personalities; whereas we vote for principles in case of proportional lists. I do not like many candidates of united opposition but I’ll vote for multi-party system,” says Gia L, 31.
Tamar M, 66, feels that most politicians in Georgia are untrustworthy. She says, “Unfortunately, I do not notice aspiration for improvement among politicians and authorities. They are hypocrite, indecent people who are not faithful to their country. Such people are encouraged and young generation is given bad example.”
Vague principles or lack of principles?
The top ten candidates of the National Movement list are surprising for society. After the scandalous withdrawal from the race by the Parliament Speaker, the ruling party had to make immediate changes to the list but their principles are still vague. In the parliamentary elections of 2004, there were many sportsmen on the list of the National Movement. This time the focus seems to be on culture and business circles. Davit Bakradze (the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of Saakashvili’s election headquarters during the presidential elections), Koba Subeliani (former head of Tbilisi Municipal Improvements service and former minister of refugees and accommodation) and Gia Roinishvili (an actor) top the National Movement’s list.
Candidates also include Zaza Gamtsemlidze, the former minister of environment who occupied this post for two months; Nugzar Tsiklauri, journalist; Khatuna Ochiauri, one of the founders of Soviet Occupation museum; Mikheil Machavariani, vice-speaker of parliament; Gigi Tsereteli, MP; and Davit Rachiashvili, political analyst, and executive director of Open Society Georgia Foundation. It is not bad to introduce political experts and analysts to the legislative and executive government but as for other figures of the list, it is uncertain why Davit Bakradze replaced Nino Burjanadze’s candidacy. Perhaps it is because he is rumored to be one of the few people in the ruling party who always complies with instructions- this was proven during the presidential elections in January 2008.
Davit Bakradze assesses this mission as a “big responsibility and hard burden.” He states that his main goal concerns a strong and independent Parliament.
Koba Subeliani’s position on the list is also uncertain. Subeliani personally thanked President Mikheil Saakashvili for this trust.
It was also surprising that Gia Roinishvili appeared third on the list.
According to Gigi Tsereteli, chairman of parliamentary committee for healthcare and social issues “the ruling party needs experienced, business-minded and good-image people. That’s why such people are included in the list.”
“The election list reflects opinions and prospects of the political party. The main thing is that the parliament should develop relevant legislation and solve the problems of population,” states Gigi Tsereteli.
The top ten candidates of the United Opposition (9-party coalition) represent strong political figures. However, we should not forget that it is a bloc uniting nine political entities and the leaders of these forces top the list.
Nine of the top ten opposition figures are majority candidates. Number one is Levan Gachechiladze (MP, former presidential candidate) who represents Samgori district. Number two is Davit Gamkrelidze (MP, leader of New Rights, former presidential candidate) in Vake district; Number 3 is Konstantine Gamsakhurdia (leader of political movement “Liberty”) in Abasha; then Zviad Dzidziguri (MP, Conservative party) in Isani. Koba Davitashvili (People’s party) represents Zugdidi in the fifth position; number six is Eka Beselia (Movement for United Georgia) in Nadzaladevi, Gubaz Sanikidze (National Forum) is in Kutaisi; number eight is Dimitri Lortkipanidze (Georgian Way); number nine is Goga Khaindrava in Krtsanisi; and finally, number ten is Jondi Baghaturia (Georgian Troupe) in Senaki.
Davit Gamkrelidze, head of United Opposition’s election headquarter declares, “The principle for all political leaders and figures of the bloc was to choose the best candidates rather than lobby quotas.”
In comparison with other political forces, the top ten candidates of the Republican Party seem more stable:
1. Davit Usupashvili (leader of Republican Party)
2. Levan Berdzenishvili (MP)
3. Valeri Gelashvili (former MP and one of the main Republican party financers).
4. Ivliane Khaindrava (MP).
5. Davit Berdzenishvili (MP).
6. Tinatin Khidasheli.
7. Davit Zurabishvili (MP).
8. Irakli Batiashvili (former political prisoner).
9. Leri Khabelov (sportsman).
10. Murman Dumbadze (leader of Republican party’s representation in Adjara).
Seven of them are majority MP candidates. Only Leri Khabelov is a new face on this list. However, he is a famous wrestler popular among Georgian society. As for the election list of the Christian-Democratic Movement, journalists occupy its top ten positions. Some of them are majoritarian MP candidates.
1. Giorgi Targamadze.
2. Levan Vepkhvadze (former presenter of Imedi TV).
3. Magda Anikashvili (former presenter of Imedi TV).
4. Giorgi Akhvlediani (former journalist of Imedi TV).
New faces to politics represent these top ten positions on the list.
After separation from its old political partner, the New Rights Party, “Industry Will Save Georgia” will run for elections together with new partners. The bloc known as the Rightist Alliance- Topadze-Industrialists united three political entities with various outlooks: Gogi Topadze’s , “Industry will save Georgia,” Jumber Patiashvili’s political movement Ertoba, and National Democratic Party.
Earlier Industrialists had small but stable electorates. They managed to overcome the 7% election threshold together with the New Rights Party and entered the parliament in 2004. It is difficult to predict whether they will manage to overcome the 5% threshold with new political partners.
The voters’ concern is that in Georgia, the party traditions and culture are low and all parties are more or less dependent on their leaders. In this regard, it is enough to look through the election list submitted to the CEC. A special online opinion poll on the criteria for choosing candidates was organized by the “political institutions in Georgia,” project managed by OSCE /ODIHR, Multi-party democracy institute of Netherlands, and the Caucasian institute for peace, democracy and development. The question was- Why do you give preference to any political party? 339 people were interviewed. 53.1% of respondents said that their decision is connected to strong leadership. 23.3% declared that they are focused on party program and 23.6% said that they give preference in accordance with their deeds.
Nino Japaridze
The Georgian Times, April 29, 2008
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