Shevardnadze Hopes for Overwhelming Victory in Parliamentary Elections

(Tbilisi. April 7, 2003. Civil Georgia) – President Shevardnadze, which leads the newly established election alliance For New Georgia, says that the new election bloc would try to gain overwhelming majority of seats in the Parliament.

Three pro-Presidential political groups ? the Citizens? Union of Georgia (CUG), Socialists Party and the newly established popular movement Great Silk Road, which is led by the chief of the Railway Department Akaki Chkhaidze, formed the election bloc on April 5.

?The election bloc will be finally formed in couple of months. At the moment State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze [Chairman of the CUG] hold consultations with other political parties which might join the new election alliance,? Eduard Shevardnadze said.

He said that the Industrialist party might also join the bloc. However Zurab Tkemaladze, one of the leaders of the Industrialists told Civil Georgia today that the party does not intend to join any of the election blocs. ?We will participate in the elections independently,? he said.

President Shevardnadze also said that the pre-election program of he bloc will be based on the President?s New Program For New Georgia, submitted to the Parliament last year, which considers liberalization of economy, gradual increase of minimal salary and the restoration of Georgia?s territorial integrity.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)