The challenge from Saakashvili’s brother-in-arms

TBILISI — The fact that Levan Gachechiladze was nominated as a presidential candidate in Georgia came as a surprise to many people. Experts had predicted a more experienced politician for this post. But the united opposition is placing its bets on the 43- year-old deputy who is considered Michael Saakashvili’s main rival. Gachechiladze is positive he will win, although he admits that victory will not come easily to him.

Mr. Gachechiladze, when did you decide to become a presidential candidate?

“At first the opposition wasn’t thinking at all about a presidential candidate. We were holding a peaceful action in front of the parliament building together with the people. We were protesting against injustice and the fact that power had been usurped. We demanded parliamentary elections to be held within the terms defined by the Constitution of Georgia, in spring 2008. We firmly believe that the opposition could easily win these elections because the popularity of the ruling party in Georgia is catastrophically low. Everyone knows what the results were: anti-terrorist commandos, batons, and rubber bullets.”

As an organizer of this action, you were hurt in an encounter with the police.

“The protest action was organized by the whole opposition with the people’s support. I was injured several times, in different parts of the city. I was poisoned with gas and I also suffered a brain concussion of medium severity.”

Did the idea of nominating an opposition candidate emerge after the meeting was dispersed?

“Yes, but to be more exact, right after Saakashvili announced the early presidential elections. He threw down a challenge, and it would be wrong of us not to accept it.”

Will you later leave the presidency if you win the elections?

“Of course, this is my promise to my people, because the coming elections will be a referendum not so much about showing confidence in me as about the idea to abolish the presidency. This is the foundation of the opposition’s platform. We are in favor of a parliamentary republic, probably a constitutional monarchy. Georgia does not need new leaders. Their time has passed.”

And when do you plan to resign if the majority of voters vote for you?

“This will most likely happen after the parliamentary elections that will take place in spring or autumn 2008. The people will approve the date for the elections to be held in a plebiscite that will take place at the same time as the presidential elections.”

Many political and public figures support the idea of a constitutional monarchy. How do you picture it?

“The principle will be the same as in many European countries: ‘The king reigns but does not rule.’ But it would be wrong of me to say that this institution will appear in Georgia in the nearest future. A constitutional monarchy is a long-term perspective. We will probably have to hold a nationwide referendum to adopt the final resolution. We will have to find an underaged descendant of the Bagration royal dynasty of Georgia and educate him properly. In any case, this will not happen either today or tomorrow.”

Does Saakashvili’s defeat in the elections seem realistic to you?

“Completely. We are capable of beating him. But I must admit that it will not be easy. We will probably have to hold a second round. For us the situation is complicated by the banning measures that the government uses. Restrictions on freedom of the press, an imperfect electoral code — all this suits Saakashvili. But we are supported by the people. And this will override — with interest — all the authorities’ tricks.”

The government has accused you of being in cahoots with the oligarch Badri Patarkatsishvili. It says you are planning to withdraw your candidature in his favor. In return, he will pay off your bank debt.

“These are lies. What else can the government do?”

What relations do you have with Patarkatsishvili?

“We have normal relations. We are not friends, but we are united by a single goal: to remove the current president of Georgia and his team.”

Are you personally acquainted with Mr. Saakashvili?

“I know him well. I used to head his election campaign headquarters, when he was standing for the Georgian parliament. I had a different opinion about Saakashvili at the time. He seemed to be energetic, honest, and upright. But Saakashvili has not justified hopes. He has betrayed his own people and not kept any of his promises. New jobs, economic wellbeing, and the return of our lost territories turned out to be pre-election bluffing.”

If the opposition wins, will it resolve the problems of Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia?

“It is too early to talk about this now. You have to be in power to understand the levers and possibilities that the country has at its disposal. Only then can one talk about concrete ways of resolving problems.”

What will Georgia’s foreign policy look like?

“I will not give you a detailed breakdown. But in general, our priority direction will be integration into the North Atlantic bloc and European structures. Relations with Russia should be regulated, but not at the expense of our relations with the West.”