Opposition Lays Out ‘Response Proposals’

While keeping the President’s resignation as a top demand, opposition parties, behind the ongoing protests, have also put forth number of other demands, which some opposition politicians think may serve as an interim step and important part on the way towards achieving the key goal.

In a joint statement released on May 18, protest rallies’ organizer parties called for resignation of two powerful cabinet members – Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili.

The statement says that two new ministers should be appointed “through the agreement with the opposition.” The move should secure “political impartiality” of the law enforcement agencies, according to the statement.

In other demands, the opposition has also called for replacement of Chairman of Supreme Court, Kote Kublashvili, and Chairman of Central Election Commission, Levan Tarkhnishvili, with nominees agreed with the opposition parties.

The opposition has also offered holding of early parliamentary elections, simultaneously with the direct election of Tbilisi Mayor, in October, 2009 and also a plebiscite – a legally non-biding referendum, on forms of future constitutional arrangement.

In respect of media, the opposition has demanded appointment of new general director of public broadcaster, as well as members of its board of trustees through the agreement with the opposition. It also demanded “return of Imedi TV to its legal owner,” referring to late tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili’s family.

“In case of implementation of these proposals until May 26, it will be possible to start the process of achieving a national consent and strengthening the Georgian statehood,” the statement reads.

Politicians from Alliance for Georgia, involving Irakli Alasania’s political team; Republican Party and New Rights Party, said last week that they were preparing “response proposals” to President Saakashvili’s proposals put forth on May 11 after meeting with opposition leaders.

Salome Zourabichvili, leader of Georgia’s Way party, said in an interview with the Georgian daily, Rezonansi, published on May 18, that there were two possible options out from the current standoff: “Either Misha should go and elections should be held afterwards; or Misha should get rid of those clans, which represent guarantee that no free elections will be held. In case of the second option, he [Saakashvili] opens road towards normal elections and in that case he will prolong to some form his term in office.”

Meanwhile, a group of opposition activists rallied outside the Rustavi 2 TV on May 18 accusing the television station of biased and negative coverage of the ongoing protests; later protesters marched towards the Interior Ministry’s special operations department not far from the Rustavi 2 TV, before joining rally outside the Parliament.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)