What will the new Abkhaz parliament look like? Part 1

By Spartak Zhidkov, exclusively to VK

Abkhaz parliamentary elections are scheduled for March 10, and now the new stage of political competition is beginning.

Traditionally, parliamentary campaigning in Abkhazia is less intense that the presidential race, as the state is a presidential republic and the President has the upper hand over Parliament. This campaign is no exception. Alexander Anquab’s victory in the summer presidential elections determined the political course of the country for the next five years, but the partisans of Anquab’s opponents participate in the parliamentary elections, and they seem eager to even the score; so one could expect at least as fierce a competition as on August polls.

Parliamentary elections are supposed to complete the stabilization of Abkhaz political system and to symbolize the end of the ‘uncertainty period’ in the country’s development, especially in the economic sector.

The principle opposition party, the National Unity Forum, hopes to get as many of the 35 parliamentary seats as possible. Abkhaz one-chamber National Assembly is so small that each politician who becomes an MP gains considerable influence. Two thirds of MPs voting together can declare an impeachment. Of course, it seems unlikely that after the decisive victory of Alexander Anquab (he won 55% of the votes) the opposition can hope to win the parliamentary elections. However, it still can win a decent number of seats as parliamentary elections in Abkhazia are held according to a different scheme than that of the presidential ones.

Abkhaz constitution doesn’t specify how the parliamentary elections should be held, but they are traditionally held according to the majority principle. Some political and public figures advocate the party list election principle, as a two-party system is developing in the country. However, there are a lot of objections to this proposal as party list system would minimize opposition’s chances of getting a considerable number of parliamentary seats, but it would also create a risk of a parliamentary victory of a broad opposition coalition if case it appears (which is possible in Abkhazia).

Another specific trait of Abkhaz political life is that no party is actually the President’s party – the ruling “United Abkhazia” party was created 7 years ago as an oppositional force and came to power with Sergei Bagapsh’s victory on presidential elections of 2004. Another party that supports the regime, the Amtsakhara, is even more independent form the current President.

Abkhaz Parliament doesn’t have a say in the PM’s appointment, so it has no direct influence over the executive power in the country. However, unlike the parliaments of many democratic countries of the world, Abkhaz Parliament can’t be dissolved by the President’s order. So it is almost guaranteed that the opposition will retain the influence in wins during the upcoming elections till 2017.

Today, Abkhaz PM have no right to have any other government-related jobs or even any other regular jobs for that matter (except for scientific and artistic ones). Back in 1991-1996, when the MPs could be members of the governmental administration as well, the Parliament had a much greater influence. Now, due to the career restrictions, a lot of first-ranking political figures avoid to be elected to the Parliament. The whole idea behind the restrictions introduced by the 1994 Constitution was to ensure that only law specialists would enter the Parliamnet. However, under the majority system of elections this principle doesn’t work.

To be continued