Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK
Several weeks ago when American party institutes NDI and IRI following political processes in Georgia published the results of public palls, including party ratings, rumors began to spread in Tbilisi: the permanent head of the Laborite Party of Georgia, Shalva Natelashvili, decided to leave the politics. An indirect proof was an unexpected closing of the Laborites’ office, disappearance of the party flag over the entrance and strange silence of other leaders of the party who have always communicated with journalists. This time they turned off their mobile phones and didn’t comment rumors on political resignation of one of the brightest figures.
According to all polls, the Laborites have no chances to pass the five-per cent barrier in the coming parliamentary elections on October 1. According to sociological services, the Laborite Party will gain 3-4%. This information was published by American organizations, after which Natelashvili decided to disappear from the office and the mass media space.
As a man who enthusiastically believes into justice of the world, Shalva always sharply undergoes failures. For example, in 2008 after failure in his native Dushetsky region, Natelashvili felt heartache and doctors insisted on a surgery. Natelashvili (his name might be translated from Georgian as “a light man”) returned from the Vienna hospital and didn’t hide his offense. He criticized heavily the whole Georgian peoples: “Ungrateful! I devoted my whole life to struggle for your rights and happiness. When you need anything, when the authorities increase electricity prices or forbid trading on the streets, you run to me; but in the elections you vote for various villains, but not for me.”
Another reason for being upset is the results of public polls which showed that his Laborite Party goes behind not only the ruling UNM, but also Georgian Dream of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Natelashvili and the billionaire have difficult relations. Several years ago the Laborites’ leader proposed “the richest Georgian” a position of Premier under the condition that he will help him to become President. But Ivanishvili rejected the proposal. Since that time Natelashvili accused the leader of “Dreamers” of all sins.
Shalva Natelashvili and his party cannot be called fringe politicians. They have a clear program and a clearly determined idea – the idea of social justice, material equality, redistribution of property, “taking from the wealth and giving to the poor,” and so on. The reason for non-popularity of the idea in Georgia is impossibility of its implementation. However, Natelashvili has a chance if “bourgeois society’s” values collapse. He promises to nationalize all major enterprises in case of coming in office.
The weakness of Natelashvili is his inability to use modern means and technologies for promotion of his party and the all-national idea. However, the Laborite party shouldn’t be filed away in storage ahead of the coming parliamentary elections. While two billionaires are fighting against each other, common citizens might vote for a common person who is a part of suffering people.
