Q&A with Davit Usupashvili
Seven opposition parties – New Rights, Republican, Conservative, Industrialist, Labor, Freedom and People’s Forum – have teamed up to jointly challenge the government’s policy over various issues. Civil Georgia interviewed the leader of the Republican Party, Davit Usupashvili, on July 12 on the goals of this grouping.
Usupashvili said that this group of seven parties does not yet form a joint election coalition, but consultations will soon be launched on the creation of an election block to jointly confront the ruling National Movement party in the upcoming local self-governance election scheduled for this autumn.
A.: These seven opposition parties, which are now jointly voicing positions on various issues, have been engaged in intensive consultations in the last six or seven months. There were certain issues that gave no possibility to make joint statements [because of disagreements] over some issues, but in recent months several serious problems have emerged over which we share positions.
First of all, there are the upcoming local self-governance elections. We have jointly developed a statement with the demand to hold local elections in Tbilisi through a proportional [party-list] system.
This demand is not our private interest, but this is an attempt to prevent a very dangerous political crisis in the country which, we think, will become inevitable in the case of holding elections under the current rule [on electing the Tbilisi City Council – Sakrebulo]. This is the system which will create a one-party Sakrebulo with only five opposition representatives, which will only serve to create an illusion of democracy to allow [the authorities] to state that they have an opposition [in the Sakrebulo].
We also think that the current system will cause a situation where choice of about 60% of voters will not be reflected in [the distribution of seats in] the Sakrebulo. We think that this kind of fragmentation of society will inevitably lead to the further aggravation of the political situation in the country.
This process of consultations between these seven opposition parties coincided with emergence of a new wave of violence and illegality of the authorities. This involved the absolutely illegal arrest of Irakli Kakabadze [chief of the non-governmental organization Equality Institute]; the Girgvliani murder case trial; issues related with IDPs, when they were forced out [from a hotel] in Batumi with consequent cynical comments by the Prime Minister [Zurab Nogaideli] and Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze. So all these issues triggered us to redirect our attention on these problems, including on situation in Tbilisi State University.
Up to now we are managing to articulate joint positions about all these issues, as well as coordinated actions. I do not know whether this [cooperation] will grow into something or not, but this [group of parties] represents the major and leading part of the opposition forces.
Q.: On June 30 these seven parties signed a joint statement demanding that local elections be held in Tbilisi based on a party-list system, but the leader of Georgia’s Way party, Salome Zourabichvili, refused to put her signature on this statement.
A.: In regard to this – the necessity of holding elections based on a proportional system – all seven political parties have the same position. Salome Zourabichvili’s party also shares this position, but she has not signed the joint statement because she disagrees on certain issues articulated in this statement. For example, she thinks that it is not right to even talk about the possible boycott of elections. But we, the seven parties, have agreed that if the authorities do not take this demand [on holding elections based on party-list system] into consideration, we will definitely start to seriously consider the possibility of boycotting elections.
Q.: The political platform of the Republican Party is much more closed to the one of the Georgia’s Way rather than with other opposition forces united in the group of seven parties. What is the reason of the failure to establish closer ties with Zourabichvili’s party?
A.: That’s right, in respect to political platform and strategic views we are closer to Salome Zourabichvili. There are also the New Rights and Conservatives, with whom we share the same political views, including on economic development issues as well. For example, the Industrialists have a slightly different opinion about economic issues, in particular about the openness of economy. The same can be said about the Labor Party.
From the very first day we [the Republican Party] were trying to establish a partnership with Mrs. Zourabichvili. But disagreements of a tactical nature have gradually emerged; for example, in respect to the local elections.
We think that, unfortunately, conditions have not been established in Georgia for the free development of political parties, I mean, conditions in which individual parties could work on their own platform and on their own agenda which would have enabled them to create their own powerbase among society. The resolution of elementary problems and first of all the creation of a fair competitive environment is needed to let the parties implement this agenda.
Against the background of this situation Mrs. Zourabichvili, contrary, makes more focus on [her] party’s establishment issues and thinks more about what will be better for her party in a long-term perspective.
But, we think that on the eve of the local elections it is a top priority to jointly prevent serious crises in the country. Straightforwardly speaking, the creation of a broad opposition coalition is an urgent measure on the eve of elections to shake the authorities’ total monopoly and then it will be possible to team up based on political platforms on the eve of the parliamentary elections [in 2008]. But Mrs. Zourabichvili has different position.
But I also do not rule out regrouping [among the opposition parties]. I think it become clear in next two months. Whatever happens I think we should preserve the civilized form of relations.
Q.: When speaking jointly over certain issues these seven opposition parties are voicing contradictory slogans. Radical groups, including the Labor Party, are calling for Saakashvili’s resignation, while moderates, including the Republican Party, are cautious about these kinds of radical demands. Do you think it might confuse voters?
A.: This grouping of seven opposition parties is not yet an election coalition, and simultaneously to voicing a joint position over various issues, we still preserve a right to express our individual positions.
But if we start to seriously consider the creation of an election block then we will have to work harder to show more unity among us in order not to confuse voters.
The Republican Party’s position is that a unification of forces would be the best way to participate in the elections, which will enable us to reach our goals even against the background of an existing bad election system. There will be consultations about these issues [among the opposition parties] in the near future. But even if we fail to reach an agreement [on forming an election coalition], we will remain united over those issues which are more important than any individual party’s interests: rule of law, independence of judiciary, human rights.
Q.: What will be the Republican Party’s plan in case talks on an election coalition fail?
A.: Currently we are focused on this issue [upcoming consultations on election coalition].