Alasania’s plebiscite is underway

The Alliance for Georgia, which consists of the political team of the Georgia’s former Ambassador to UN Irakli Alasania, the Republican Party and the New Rights, has announced that it has begun holding a plebiscite throughout the country. The only question Georgian citizens will be asked in the plebiscite is whether they agree that snap Presidential elections should be held in the nearest future.

Speaking at a meeting of the leaders of the Tbilisi and regional offices of the Alliance at the central office of the New Rights, Alasania said that starting from Thursday Georgian citizens will have the chance to express their negative or positive opinion on this issue. The results of the plebiscite will be published on March 31, the leader of the Alliance noted.

Alasania outlined the strategy and vision of the Alliance. He said stability and security is the most important issue in the country. “Georgia should avoid a repetition of the August events. The only way to achieve this is through the unity of political forces and a peaceful change of Government. We do not fight against personalities, we fight this authoritarian regime through the plebiscite and all constitutional means,” the former ally of President Saakashvili stated.

Alasania noted that the members of the Alliance are ready to cooperate with all political forces. “Our union is open for all political parties. Taking into account the interests of Georgia, we are even ready to cooperate with the Government in order to ensure a peaceful transition of power,” he said. The former UN Ambassador said the Alliance for Georgia is the force able to make Georgia “united, strong and integrated.” He added that the Alliance will take part in the protest rallies planned for April 9. “The Alliance will join the April 9 demonstrations and I think that only a united society can avoid the pressure that might be applied on it,” Alasania noted.

Leader of the Republican Party David Usupashvili also stressed that the Alliance is capable of making changes in the country. “We are united, we know what we want and we have energy, experience and knowledge of how to change this regime and build the country,” Usupashvili said. “We are all creating the future of Georgia together,” the leader of the New Rights, David Gamkrelidze, told the participants of the meeting, adding that the Alliance “will ensure the end of Saakashvili’s regime.”

Those present at the meeting, who were mostly from the regions, were quite excited about the plans of the Alliance. “We are very optimistic that our expectations will be met. Our demand is common throughout Georgia – the Government should be changed and peace and stability should be established in the country,” 59-year old teacher of Georgian literature and the Chairman of the New Rights’ Kazbegi headquarters Tsitsino Ghudushauri told The Messenger.

34-year old Lela Adeishvili, teacher of German and the newly-appointed Chairman of the New Rights’ Vani district headquarters, said she was a little bit sad, because now that the Alliance has been established David Gamkrelidze will not be the Presidential candidate. “When I heard that our party leader would not be the candidate, I was a bit frustrated, but as far as it is the joint decision, let it be so,” Lela Adeishvili said, smiling.

Some political analysts are not as sure of the success of the Alliance’s plans as its members are. Political commentator Ramaz Sakvarelidze said he has almost no expectations that the President will obey the decision of Georgian citizens. “We saw once before that Saakashvili resigned and snap elections were called, and it seemed as if the will of the people was being taken into consideration, but Saakashvili used his administrative resources to win the elections. It is obvious that he was considering the opinion of international organizations and not the demands of the citizens of Georgia,” Sakvarelidze noted.