The symptom of power monopolization

A split has emerged for the first time in Georgia’s ruling party Georgian Dream which came to power in the fall of 2012, which may have serious consequences for the country’s further course. For a number of reasons, three key ministers have quit the government. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania was dismissed, while Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and Minister of State for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Aleksi Petriashvili handed in their resignations. They were all part of the Georgian Dream – Free Democrats faction which has 10 seats in parliament.

Alasania was fired for criticizing the government, when two high-placed Defense Ministry officials had legal proceedings instituted against them. They are being accused of embezzling public funds. But Georgian media are also putting forward a different version. In particular, political scientist Khatuna Lagazidze believes that dismissing the defense minister “was conceived as a Russian operation.”

Alasania supports this version and has already called on Georgia’s pro-Western forces to rally together. “The Russian plan envisages the creation of a Georgian Yanukovych, and there are very many Yanukovyches in Georgia. We are seeking partners among all those who consider themselves pro-Western forces. I trust all our coalition partners and see no reason why things should pattern a Russian scenario. At any rate I hope for this very much. My only condition is to confirm the country’s Euro-Atlantic choice,” Alasania said. In his words, Georgia has entered a new stage, “when we should all protect the values Georgia has been fighting for in the past 20 years.”

Petriashvili and Panjikidze have also expressed concern over Tbilisi’s further Euro-Atlantic course. In the words of Petriashvili, Georgia “is in for dictatorship, and democracy is in danger.” On her part, the ex-foreign minister noted that Georgia’s European choice is under a threat.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has categorically denied his refusal of a pro-Western attitude, Caucasian Knot reports. “Alasania made an irresponsible statement that the country’s Euro-Atlantic choice was under attack. Integration into Europe is the choice of not only our government, but also of our people, and this process is irreversible,” the premier said.

The Day requested a Georgian political scientist, Ghia NODIA, to comment on the Georgian government scandal and its impact on the country’s future.

“These developments are a problem for Georgia. We do not know the real motives of Georgian Dream leaders. They in fact provoked a direct confrontation between Alasania and the government. In the long run – it is a matter of techniques or tactics – Alasania would have resigned or been dismissed.

“Now one of the coalition parties has in fact switched sides. This faction has 10  votes in parliament so far, and Georgian Dream still retains a parliamentary majority. It can continue to rule even without these votes.

“Meanwhile, doubts are often expressed about the extent to which Georgian Dream is a pro-Western force oriented to Euro-Atlantic integration. The presence of Alasania in the coalition was largely considered as a guarantee of this course.

“Georgian Dream denies that there is any connection between its political course and the dismissal of Alasania.

“Far from being clear is the attitude of the Republican Party which has nine  votes in parliament and which showed solidarity with Alasania before his dismissal. If they withdraw from the coalition, the latter will in fact lose the parliamentary majority, which means there will be serious problems in parliament.

“Many critics of the government among the opposition (United National Movement) and experts believe that Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream is a Georgian version of Yanukovych and that the county will follow the same way [come closer to Russia. – Ed.]. Yet Alasania and other Georgian Dream representatives have vehemently denied this. It turns out that the current complaints of Alasania and Petriashvili coincide with what the UNM has been saying before. But this does not mean that Georgia is heading for dictatorship. Maybe, on the contrary, this political crisis will be conducive to more democratic processes, but the current government is clearly showing an aspiration to monopolize power and use the law-enforcement system to harass the opponents, especially those in the UNM. It is now also true with respect to opponents inside the coalition, particularly Alasania.”