This Saturday the Georgian opposition is planning a protest action. Though everyone in Georgia is sure it's not the right time for street politics now. The demonstration is most probably a tribute to tradition. In reality the opposition has hurled all effort into the local election. But even here the situation is ridiculously familiar. Almost all opposition parties are going to nominate their candidates for the post of Tbilisi mayor. Meanwhile opposition figures keep discussing unification.

Part of the radical opposition is going to start a new wave of demonstrations on November 7. As Caucasian Knot reports Movement for United Georgia secretary general Eka Beselia believes that all opposition associations will back the initiative to hold street protests. According to her this day unites all opposition forces. The opposition activities will take place in Rustaveli avenue in front of the Interior Ministry building and Imedi TV, Freedom radio reports.

However neither Republicans nor New Rights or Zurab Nogaideli's For Fair Georgia movement are going to join the traditional street politics. Experts agree that the main struggle between the authorities and opposition will start at the upcoming local election.

At least Irakli Alasania chairing the Alliance for Georgia has already stated he will run for the post of Tbilisi mayor. No one doubts that opposition figures want to go the political way of Mikheil Nikolayevich who was the city council (Sakrebulo) chairman before becoming president.

But as usual candidates for the head of the capital are numerous. Today Georgian media reported that non-parliamentary opposition was going to stake on Gachechiladze for these local elections.

As Expressnews agency reports Gachechiladze is supported by the radical opposition - Democratic Movement - United Georgia led by Nino Burdzhanadze, ex Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili's For United Georgia favoring the idea of United Front of Struggle creation, Way of Georgia party chaired by ex FM Salome Zurabishvili and the Conservatives.

As a source reports the discontent inside the non-parliamentary opposition was caused by Irakli Alasania's early nomination as a candidate. If Alasania wins the mayor race he will become a potential candidate for the President of Georgia. That is why such opposition figures as Burdzhanadze or Okruashvili will not be happy to be ousted from political processes. 

Irakli Alasania himself and representatives of the Alliance for Georgia and Our Georgia-Free Democrats party he leads refrain from any comments on unification among the radicals.

Print version