Part of CEC Members File Resignation, Still No Political Compromise

Chairman of the Central Election Commission Jumber Lominadze and other 9 members of the commission out of 19 filed for resignation today, as couple of thousand people gathered in front of the Parliament demanding for the current CEC to disband. In the CEC remain only the supporters of governmental election bloc. 

In the wake of the decision the pro-governmental Parliamentary factions agreed to start discussion of the opposition’s proposal, which foresees composition of the new CEC with the representatives of the political parties.  At the same time the members of the acting CEC will not have the right to be reappointed to the new CEC. The opposition draft says the new Commission should be before July 1. Before the discussion of the issue at the Parliamentary session the factions hold consultations, but still there is no compromise yet.

Leader of the pro-governmental Parliamentary faction Citizens’ Union Vitali Khazaradze rejected the proposal saying that the draft was not discussed by the Parliamentary Committees, thus there is no legal base for discussion of the document at the Parliamentary session.

Meanwhile couple of thousand people holds a protest rally in front of the Parliament from the morning June 3. “Enough of Vote-Rigging” – this is the main slogan of the protest rally.

“I am very sorry that you had to come here, because the Parliament was unable to reform election system,” Nino Burjanadze, Parliamentary Chairperson said, while addressing the protesters in front of the Parliament.

“I will do my best in order to convince the Parliament to vote for disbanding the existing CEC,” she added.

The United Democrats, New Rights, National Movement, People’s Party and Traditionalists are the organizers of the rally.

“Let’s stand together in order to give people a chance for fair elections,” Mikheil Saakashvili, leader of the National Movement and the Chairman of the Tbilisi City Council said earlier today while addressing the protesters.

“I welcome those opposition parties, which stand together with us right now, but especially the ordinary people and students which came here [to support us],” Zurab Zhvania, leader of the United Democrats said.

“We should be together to defeat this government,” this was the message by Levan Gachechiladze, leader of the New Rights.

“The government is against the people. I am here because I do not believe in this government. I am here because I want this government to be changed with the democratic elections,” Tengo Kikabidze, Tbilisi resident told Civil Georgia.

The protest rallies are held in the regions as well. The National Movement organizes street protests in Zugdidi, western Georgia, while the New Rights coordinate rally in a city of Kutaisi.

The authorities claim that the protest rallies in Georgia aim at destabilization of situation in the country. On June 2 President Shevardnadze called the street protests “an attempt to create a guided chaos in the country” and called the opposition and the population to refrain from hitting the streets.

Georgian State Security Ministry Valeri Khaburdzania, which had showed up at the rally in front of the parliament to observe the gathering personally, said the street protest is illegal “as they have no permission to hold the rally.”

“We have the preliminary information that some forces might use this protest to destabilize situation in the country, that is why I am hear observing the situation,” Security Minister Valeri Khaburdzania told Civil Georgia.

Opposition rejects allegations claiming that the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally guaranteed and it remains the only way to force the government to make a compromise over CEC.

“Here are my three children, which stands with me so that every body can see that we are not going and do not aim at destabilizing situation in the country,” Zurab Zhvania said, while addressing the pretest rally.

While waiting for the Parliament’s final decision over the CEC representatives of the Georgian pop-stars hold the show for the people gathered in front of the Parliament.

By Giorgi Sepashvili, Civil Georgia