Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK
After appearance of Bidzina Ivanishvili on the political stage of Georgia, the political spectrum of the country appeared to be divided not on “the Rights” and “the Lefts” like in countries of traditional democracy, but on those whom he invited to the coalition Georgian Dream and those whom he calls “undistinguished people cooperating with the power secretly.”
The party The New Rights appeared to be between the teams of Mikhail Saakashvili and Bidzina Ivanishvili. Unlike Laborites this organization is absolutely right and stands for inviolability of property, maximal freedom of business initiative and reduction of taxes. Considering the Georgian political class, it should be noted that parties are classified not by views and socio-economic programs, but by the power aspect, including participation in key events of the modern history. For example, even though vies of the Laborites and The New Rights are absolutely different, they have one common feature – rejection of the Revolution of Roses in 2003 when Saakashvili came in office.
The Rights leaders said that they predicted problems which made many supporters of the revolution be disappointed. Later many of them shifted to the team of Ivanishvili and those who blame the president in all problems, whom they took to the power. The other question is whether the position of The New Rights relied on a common sense or on jealousy then.
The New Rights Party was founded in 2001 by a group of young businessmen – “new Georgians.” They were the youth elite studied in universities in the late 1970s – early 1980s. Saakashvili and his team take origin from the same environment. These young people gained capital in the 1990s. They were proud that they built businesses from the ground level and reached success.
Of course it is exaggeration. New Georgians came from wealthy families of Tbilisi elite. However, they say sincerely that youth optimism and desire to risk helped them to start a major business much more that protection of parents and an initial capital. Shevardnadze supported the youth in all spheres, and the young businessmen prospered.
The current chairman of the party, David Gamkrelidze, is thought to be the most well-bred politician in the country. For 11 years of his political activity nobody has ever heard “a rude word” from Gamkrelidze. And his manner is rare in Georgia where politicians try to gain authority in the eyes of “electorate” by indiscreet behavior and insulting of rivals. Gamkrelidze influences the style of the party – The New Rights always tries to find a compromise at a pragmatic level with all players, including the power.
The confirmation of effectiveness of such an approach is the last-year compromise with Saakashvili’s team on the new Electoral Code. The majority of the “united opposition” members accused the Rights of collaboration, but now almost everybody uses advantages which were achieved by Gamkrelidze ans his closest supporter, Mamuka Katsitadze.
The New Rights is the only party which published a clear economic program ahead of the elections. Their main opponents – the ruling United National Movement and Georgian Dream of Ivanishvili – avoid it because they don’t want to shift primitive social populism into the sphere of practical discussions. Gamkrelidze’s party stands for improvement of the business sphere through real independence of judges and inviolability of private property; support of minor business and encouragement of agriculture, but not through subsidiaries.
Unfortunately, this program is supported only by a small part of the Georgian society. One of the main priorities for the party is the health care system. As for the foreign policy, the party stands for integration with NATO and talks with Russia only after becoming “a full member of the European Atlantic Community.”
