Some observers say that the nomination of Zurab Nogaideli for Prime Minister will further increase President Saakashvili’s powers, as, unlike late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Nogaideli, who served as a Finance Minister, is not an influential political figure. Below are some comments by political analysts who spoke to Civil Georgia about Nogaideli’s nomination.
Ghia Nodia, Caucasian Institute for Peace, Development and Democracy
Unlike Zurab Zhvania, we cannot say that Zurab Nogaideli is a strong political figure. I am sure the policies carried out by Zurab Zhvania will not be changed after Nogaideli’s appointment. Nogaideli will be responsible for implementation of economic reforms, while Zhvania was in charge of economic and political reforms simultaneously. The activities of Zurab Nogaideli in the political arena will be nominal.
Hence, it is anticipated that following Nogaideli’s nomination, the President’s powers will further increase. If Zhvania ruled the cabinet independently, Nogaideli will fail to do it.
I rule out any constitutional changes or cancellation of the Prime Minister’s position in the near future.
As for conflict resolution issues [late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania was involved in the South Ossetia conflict resolution process], Zurab Nogaideli has no experience and is quite inflexible in these issues.
Ia Antadze, political analyst
The nomination of Zurab Nogaideli as the new Prime Minister can be divided into three issues.
The first – President Saakashvili met the requirement of Zhvania’s team [those parliamentarians and government members who were close allies of late Prime Minister] for keeping the principle of a triangle in the government [President Saakashvili, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze).
The second – as a result of constitutional changes, which I expect will occur, the Prime Minister’s position will be cancelled. The fact that these constitutional changes will be made was confirmed by recent talks between Chairman of the Constitutional Court Joni Khetsuriani and Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze. This is quite logical and expected. Hence, prior to the constitutional changes Zurab Nogaideli will be a nominal figure.
The third – Zurab Zhvania and Zurab Nogaideli were close friends. Zhvania even involved Nogaideli in the privatization process. This will promote a continuation of the activities launched by Zhvania.
At the same time, Nogaideli will never become a political figure or defender of the interests of his own team. Hence, we can say that Zhvania’s political era will finally be over.
Paata Zakareishvili, political analyst
Zurab Nogaideli has never been a political figure. The nomination of Nogaideli as Prime Minister aims at defending the interests of Zhvania’s team; however, he will never become such a defender of Zhvania’s closest allies’ interests as Zhvania used to be.
As a result of the nomination of Zurab Zhvania’s close ally, Zurab Nogaideli, as the new Prime Minister, President Saakashvili avoided an anticipated confrontation, which would be irreversible in the event that someone from his [Saakashvili’s] own team was nominated. This was a well-premeditated choice, which, I think, will lead to the gradual sinking of Zhvania’s team.
As for Nogaideli’s role in the settlement of the South Ossetian and Abkhaz conflicts, the Prime Minister is not directly authorized to interfere in the conflict resolution process. The fact that Zurab Zhvania often participated in conflict resolution issues was a result of his personality and not from his position. Zhvania was just an acceptable political figure for the authorities in breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia.