Opposition Accuses Shevardnadze of Usurpation of Power, Stages March on Tbilisi
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| Ten members of the CEC voted for approval of suspicious election results |
However, at least two parties have already said they will not take seats in the Parliament, “which is not elected by the people.” The opposition leaders say they will try to prevent the first session of the new Parliament.
According to the CEC results six parties could clear 7% barrier necessary to secure seats in the Parliament. President Shevardnadze’s bloc For New Georgia and Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s Revival Union lead the election results with 21,3% and 18,84% respectively.
Key opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement received 18,8% support, followed by the Labor Party with 12,4%; the Burjanadze-Democrats – 8,8% and the New Rights – 7,3%.
As a result, under the party list For New Georgia secured 38 seats in the 235-seat Parliament; Revival Union – 33 seats; National Movement – 32; Labor Party – 20; the Burjanadze-Democrats – 15; the New Rights – 12.
The CEC ignored the court’s ruling, which canceled the results of elections in Bolnisi, Kvemo Kartli, and included results of this disputed district in the final tally of elections.
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| Troops guarding Central Election Commission on November 20 |
The Central Election Commission also announced the results of the elections in the 55 single-mandate constituencies, while the results of 10 single-mandate constituencies are disputed in the courts and by-elections will be held in other 10 constituencies on November 23. Shevardnadze’s party members also won in the single-mandate constituencies.
The National Movement and the Burjanadze-Democrats opposition blocs boycott the new Parliament and refuse to take seats in the legislative body, accusing the authorities of manipulating election results. They demand President Shevardnadze’s resignation and holding of the new parliamentary elections.
The Labor Party announced on November 19 that it might also boycott the new Parliament for the same reason. However the Labor Party’s final decision regarding the issue is not known yet.
The opposition leaders have already condemned the official results and accused President Shevardnadze of “usurpation of power through steeling votes.”
“This [election results] has finally convinced me that the election results are being created in Shevardnadze’s office,” Mikheil Saakashvili said on November 20. “This is nothing more than usurpation of power,” he added.
He accused the authorities and President Shevardnadze of dictatorship and called on the population to consolidate to defend their dignity.
“President Shevardnadze became Dictator Shevardnadze We witness all the signs of dictatorship, repressions, ballot fraud and use of force against people,” Saakashvili said.
“Until I am alive, I will struggle against dictatorship in the country. Georgia will never live under conditions of dictatorship,” Saakashvili said, adding that the opposition does not intend to use force against Shevardnadze or other members of the authorities.
“They [the authorities] promised me to increase percentage rate of the National Movement in exchange of my silence. The results are illegal. This Parliament cannot express the will of the population. This is nothing more but usurpation of power,” Saakashvili said at the news briefing on November 20.
Shevardnadze’s spokesman Kakha Imnadze dismissed Saakashvili’s claims as “sheer nonsense”.
Another opposition leader Nino Burjanadze said, “these results show that Parliamentary system in Georgia is dieing. And all hopes for holding talks faded away.”
The opposition has already staged a peaceful march on the capital Tbilisi from different regions of Georgia to demand Shevardnadze’s resignation. Nino Burjanadze left for Kutaisi, the second-largest city in Georgia on November 20 and Mikheil Saakashvili is in western Georgian region of Samegrelo.