Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK
The ruling party of Georgia United National Movement decided to response symmetrically to “Georgian Dream” of billionaire Ivanishvili which organizes mass demonstrations in various regions of the country every week. UNM hesitated to use such a form of demonstration due to two reasons.
First of all, any pro-governmental actions leave the opposition an opportunity to accuse the ruling power of using the administrative resource for involvement of government employees. But such involvement is of high necessity, not because Mikhail Saakashvili has no sincere supporters, but because the opposition, or protest, electorate is more active, while those who intend to vote for UNM prefer to stay at home and follow the development of TV. Of course, this situation is not typical for all countries, but in Georgia the power has never been changed through elections. There is a strange syndrome: in the context of demonization of the power by an active part of the society, it is more comfortable to express support to the opposition than to the ruling party.
The second reason for hesitation was the threat of street fights. The Caucasian people are impulsive, and the situation typical for the US when “diversionists” from one party come to election demonstrations of the other party and disturb speakers is absolutely impossible in the Caucasus. It is natural in America and causes only a sympathetic smile. But the fate of such a “diversionist” in Georgia would be horrible, while responsibility for consequences will lie on the authorities: didn’t manage to provide security, provoked a fight, didn’t prevent a clash, and so on.
Nevertheless, UNM held ten demonstrations in several regions of the country last Saturday. Central squares of Batumi, Zugdidi, Akhaltsikhe, Kutaisi, Ambrolauri, and other towns were full of demonstrators with red-white flags of the national movement. Saakashvili rushed from demonstration to demonstration by helicopter and by car. He managed to speak almost everywhere, and even lost his voice in the end. At the main meeting in Tbilisi the president looked tired, but his closest supporters the prime minister Vano Merabishvili, the parliament’s chairman David Bakradze, and Tbilisi’s mayor Gigi Ugulava rocked the stage.
The other important event was TV debates with participation of candidates for the position of Premier. Vano Merabishvili, laborite Shalva Natelashvili, and the leader of Christian Democrats Georgy Targamadze took part in them. Bidzina Ivanishvili refused from participation, stating that he would speak only with Mikhail Saakashvili.
The nearest future will show whether this position is beneficial for the main opposition activist. At least, Targamadze and Natelashvili benefited from the discussion with Merabishvili, as he is not a good speaker. On the other hand, he is the most powerful politician in the country after the president. Even though many people found the debates boring, they are an advantage for the power, regarding the international appraisal of democracy and transparency of the election campaign.
