Talks on peaceful handover of power launched
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, October 8
“The new government of Georgia will be completely staffed by representatives of the Georgian Dream coalition,” Parliament Speaker, Davit Bakradze stated during the first meeting between the two parties' at the Chancellery on October 5.
The first meeting regarded the peaceful handover of power was held in a “business like” environment and concluded “constructively”, both sides claimed after the meeting.
The United National Movement was represented at the talks by Giga Bokeria, Secretary of the National Security Council; Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava; outgoing parliamentary speaker Davit Bakradze and former chairman of parliamentary committee for legal affairs Pavle Kublashvili.
The Georgian Dream was represented by Irakli Alasania, leader of Our Georgia-Free Democrats, Davit Usupashvili, leader of Republican Party and two other leaders of the coalition Irakli Garibashvili and Sozar Subari.
“Until the formal confirmation of the new government, which will take several weeks, the Georgian Dream will send its representatives to all the main state institutions, including law enforcement structures to ensure a stable and peaceful handover of government,” Usupashvili started.
Fellow representative Alasania emphasized that before the official confirmation of the government, the coalition representatives will also be involved in the activities of various delegations.
“Meaning the delegations will be working on the Geneva talks or with the European Union in various directions,” Alasania stated.
Coalition representatives have underscored that all the new ministers will be appointed from the coalition rows. Deputy Ministers will mainly preserve their posts so long as they have no criminal background, and this includes the rest of those employed at the ministries.
Bokeria assessed the meeting as “constructive” and underscored that important issues were being discussed during the meeting.
Acting Parliament Speaker, Davit Bakradze reiterated that despite the president legal right to appoint the Prime Minister, the United National Movement will not create any “artificial” problems and the coalition representatives will be appointed on all leading state posts.
Bakradze also confirmed that it was a very constructive meeting, stating that the next one is to be held on October 8.
“We will continue talks. Concrete steps and issues will be discussed. Such relations are very significant for the peaceful and democratic handover of the government,” Bakradze stated.
Kakha Kakhishvili, Chair of the Elections and Political Technologies Research Centre, supports the view that all the ministers should be appointed from the ruling party.
“It is unacceptable for the secretary of the security council and the mayor of Tbilisi to be represented from oppositional wing,” Kakhishvili stated, adding that parliamentary crisis will not take place in Georgia as neither majority nor minority is interested in such a crisis.
