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Shevardnadze Offers Key Post to Moscow-Backed Adzharia Leader
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Текст: Maria Tsvetkova
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has voiced his intent to appoint the leader of the breakaway Adzharia region Aslan Abashidze to the post of prime minister in the future government. It is no secret that Abashidze enjoys strong Moscow support. If he accepts the offer, the acute political crisis will end in full defeat of the so-called “young reformers”, who represent interests of pro-Western political elite in Georgia.
Just one week ago nobody in Tbilisi could imagine Aslan Abashidze in this role. But on Thursday, November 8, the Georgian President confessed he had offered the Adzharian leader to consider the prospect of being appointed the prime minister in the new government.
Shevardnadze said so in an interview granted to Georgia’s independent Rustavi-2 TV company.
Shevardnadze said he met with Abashidze on November 3 in Adzharia’s capital Batumi. The president headed there immediately after dismissing the government last week. Reportedly, in Batumi Shevardnadze sought Adzharia leader’s support, even though their relationship had been tense before.
So far, Aslan Abashidze has agreed to take the post of the presidential envoy in charge of Abkhaz settlement, and has already proved his efficiency during his visit to Moscow. Obviously, Abashidze’s mission was to find out Moscow’s position in case the Georgian leadership demonstrates full loyalty to the Kremlin.
And, immediately after Abashidze’s return from Moscow, Shevardnadze declared of the intent to make him the prime minister.
Besides, the president of Georgia publicly praised Abashidze’s efficiency, saying that he (Abashidze) “could do a lot” on the post of the head of the government. However, notwithstanding Shevardnadze’s determination to make Abashidze a prime minister, yet the latter cannot count on anything more than promises.
The problem is that the post of prime minister was abolished in Georgia in 1995, along with the cabinet of ministers. In his interview to Rustavi-2 Shevardnadze expressed hope that the Georgian parliament would consider and adopt a draft bill on amendments to the constitution.
Eduard Shevardnadze signed that draft bill long ago, but the document got stuck in the parliament with little chances for approval.
The parliament insists on curbing presidential powers, whereas Shevardnadze adheres to the Russian model, whereby the prime minister is mostly in charge of economic issues, while the president commands the co-called power-wielding bloc: military, law enforcement, state security and the like.
Last week Eduard Shevardnadze sacked the whole government in the wake of the acute political crisis, fuelled by unlawful raids conducted by the Georgian Ministry for State Security in the offices of Georgia’s only independent TV company Rustavi-2.
This week the Georgian parliament is expected to review Shevardnadze’s draft anew and to decide on its fate. At the same time, the lawmakers are to elect their new chairman.
As a reminder, parliamentary speaker Zurab Zhvania resigned from his post last week. At present, there are three candidates for the post: Nino Burdzhanadze, backed by ''young reformers'' led by the resigned Zhvania, Vazha Lordkipanidze (formerly Georgia’s envoy to Russia), nominated by the pro-presidential ''Cooperation'' faction, and Dzhemal Gogitidze from Adzharia’s ''Revival'' movement.
All three are considered to have approximately equal chances for success, and the outcome of voting is scarcely predictable.
As a reminder, earlier this week Georgian lawmakers failed to elect the new chairman. On Wednesday there was no quorum, therefore, no decision could be taken. On Thursday the deputies resumed debates, but most likely, the final decision will be made on Friday.
08 НОЯБРЯ 18:08
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