Georgia's Way
Encyclopedia
Georgia's Way is a political party
in Georgia
. It was registered on March 11, 2006. The chairman of the party was former Georgian Foreign Minister
Salome Zourabichvili
, who was sacked by Prime Minister
Zurab Nogaideli in October 2005. On November 12, 2010 Zourabichvili announced her resignation from the presidency. She was replaced by Kakha Seturidze. The former French
diplomat had participated in a series of disputes with members of Parliament and had been heavily criticized by a number of Georgian ambassadors.
The day after her sacking, Zourabichvili called on Georgians to gather in the thousands at the Tbilisi
Hippodrome to express solidarity with her. Addressing the crowd the former Cabinet Minister said, "This is not a political gathering... this does not mean a call for revolution. Georgia has already undergone a revolution [the 2003 Rose Revolution
] and this was the correct way; but unfortunately they [the authorities] have turned away from this road... People, who need democracy, who want a civilized European system, are here. Today, I will start a new life, together with you - for you and your children, calmly, as it should be in a civilized country."
Georgia's Way held its inaugural assembly on March 12, in front of roughly 2000 supporters gathered in the Tbilisi Philharmonic Hall. Zourabichvili said that Georgia currently faced two major threats: a return back to a pre-Rose Revolution period and, as she put it 'revolutionism'. MP Gia Tortladze became the chairman of the party’s political council, but has since resigned. Mr Tortladze is a member of the Democratic Front parliamentary faction, which unites MPs from the weaker opposition Republican Party and Conservative Party of Georgia
groupings.
. Zourabichvili has been largely against protest rallies frequently organised by the less popular opposition parties such as the Georgian Labour Party
. Speaking to Rustavi 2
television on July 11 the 54 year-old said, "People do not want to come out into the streets and they do not want revolutions and upheavals. People want democracy and people want a fair investigation of the Girgvliani murder case." 28-year-old Sandro Girgvliani, the head of the United Georgian Bank’s international relations department, became a high-profile murder case
after a televised report indicated that several top-level officials from the Interior Ministry could have links to the crime. Also on 28 July, Zourabchivili became the only opposition leader to hail the Kodori Gorge operation
which saw the government remove rebel warlord
Emzar Kvitsiani
from the territory. She went on to say that she "congratulate[d] the authorities on the decision to relocate the [exiled pro-Tbilisi] Abkhaz authorities to [the] Gorge."
In broad terms Ms Zourabchivili did appear to lean towards some form of liberalism
. While addressing the March assembly of Georgia's Way, the opposition leader remarked, "We have to bring back Georgian values; the tolerance and solidarity that are we are losing today. We have to accept others’ opinions, because without the diversity of opinions it is impossible to build a state". In addition the group promised to base itself on the protection of private property and human rights, and the rule of law. The safeguarding of a free and responsible media
is also one of the main views espoused by the movement.
Georgia's Way has said it intends to have candidates for all the seats in Georgia's upcoming local elections
, with Zourabichvili having hopes to become Tbilisi
Mayor
. However the party has rejected calls to form an alliance with the other opposition parties, saying that it rejected 'false alliances' and Koba Davitashvili's offer to withdraw from the race in favour of a unified candidate. Zourabichvili remarked in the 24 Saati (24 Hours) newspaper that "It was unimaginable for me to launch my political career by striking deals with those parties which have failed to secure the public's confidence… How is it possible to withdraw one's own candidacy in favor of a person whose ideas you do not even know and whose ideas you may not even agree with?"
Although former party chairman Zourabichvili enjoyed a high reputation in the country Georgia's Way has not been able to establish itself in the political field. At the city council elections in Tbilisi on October 5, 2006 only 2.77% of the constituency voted for the party. Six months before, an opinion poll conducted by the Georgian weekly Kviris Palitra suggested that Zourabichvili would garner 23.1% of the votes at presidential elections.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. It was registered on March 11, 2006. The chairman of the party was former Georgian Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
Salome Zourabichvili
Salome Zourabichvili
Salomé Zourabichvili is a Georgian politician, from 2004 to 2005 Foreign Minister of Georgia and a former diplomat in the French service. Currently she is the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts assisting the UN Security Council’s Iran Sanctions Committee.-Biography:Zourabichvili was born in...
, who was sacked by Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Zurab Nogaideli in October 2005. On November 12, 2010 Zourabichvili announced her resignation from the presidency. She was replaced by Kakha Seturidze. The former French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
diplomat had participated in a series of disputes with members of Parliament and had been heavily criticized by a number of Georgian ambassadors.
The day after her sacking, Zourabichvili called on Georgians to gather in the thousands at the Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
Hippodrome to express solidarity with her. Addressing the crowd the former Cabinet Minister said, "This is not a political gathering... this does not mean a call for revolution. Georgia has already undergone a revolution [the 2003 Rose Revolution
Rose Revolution
The "Revolution of Roses" was a change of power in Georgia in November 2003, which took place after having widespread protests over the disputed parliamentary elections...
] and this was the correct way; but unfortunately they [the authorities] have turned away from this road... People, who need democracy, who want a civilized European system, are here. Today, I will start a new life, together with you - for you and your children, calmly, as it should be in a civilized country."
Georgia's Way held its inaugural assembly on March 12, in front of roughly 2000 supporters gathered in the Tbilisi Philharmonic Hall. Zourabichvili said that Georgia currently faced two major threats: a return back to a pre-Rose Revolution period and, as she put it 'revolutionism'. MP Gia Tortladze became the chairman of the party’s political council, but has since resigned. Mr Tortladze is a member of the Democratic Front parliamentary faction, which unites MPs from the weaker opposition Republican Party and Conservative Party of Georgia
Conservative Party of Georgia
The Conservatives Party of Georgia is a centre-right and nationalist political party, active in Georgia since 2001.Currently led by its acting chairman Zviad Dzidziguri, the party had been allied with Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement until May 2004 when it switched into opposition...
groupings.
Policies
At present it is difficult to define the policies of Georgia's Way, which has largely stuck to pragmatic and constructive criticism of the governmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
. Zourabichvili has been largely against protest rallies frequently organised by the less popular opposition parties such as the Georgian Labour Party
Georgian Labour Party
The Georgian Labour Party is a political party in Georgia. The party is led by its founder Shalva Natelashvili.Its main goal is to make Georgia a democratic country and eventually to become a member of the European Union...
. Speaking to Rustavi 2
Rustavi 2
Rustavi 2 Broadcasting Company , better known as Rustavi 2, is the most successful private television broadcasting company in Georgia. The Rustavi, based in Tbilisi, was founded in 1994 in the town of Rustavi. It is a privately owned free to air terrestrial broadcaster that currently reaches around...
television on July 11 the 54 year-old said, "People do not want to come out into the streets and they do not want revolutions and upheavals. People want democracy and people want a fair investigation of the Girgvliani murder case." 28-year-old Sandro Girgvliani, the head of the United Georgian Bank’s international relations department, became a high-profile murder case
Sandro Girgvliani Murder Case
The Sandro Girgvliani Murder Case is one of the most notorious criminal cases in the modern history of Georgia. The killing, and the events as a result of it, have generated heavy criticism of the current government, particularly the interior minister, and the extent to which reformist President...
after a televised report indicated that several top-level officials from the Interior Ministry could have links to the crime. Also on 28 July, Zourabchivili became the only opposition leader to hail the Kodori Gorge operation
2006 Kodori crisis
The 2006 Kodori crisis erupted in late July 2006 in Abkhazia's Kodori Gorge, when a local militia leader declared his opposition to the Government of Georgia, which sent police forces to disarm the rebels...
which saw the government remove rebel warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
Emzar Kvitsiani
Emzar Kvitsiani
Emzar Kvitsiani was a Georgian presidential representative in the Kodori Gorge.- 2006 Kodori crisis :...
from the territory. She went on to say that she "congratulate[d] the authorities on the decision to relocate the [exiled pro-Tbilisi] Abkhaz authorities to [the] Gorge."
In broad terms Ms Zourabchivili did appear to lean towards some form of liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. While addressing the March assembly of Georgia's Way, the opposition leader remarked, "We have to bring back Georgian values; the tolerance and solidarity that are we are losing today. We have to accept others’ opinions, because without the diversity of opinions it is impossible to build a state". In addition the group promised to base itself on the protection of private property and human rights, and the rule of law. The safeguarding of a free and responsible media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
is also one of the main views espoused by the movement.
Georgia's Way has said it intends to have candidates for all the seats in Georgia's upcoming local elections
Georgian local elections, 2006
Local elections were held in Georgia on October 5, 2006. The elections follow a decree issued on August 26 by President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, setting the date for the local ballot....
, with Zourabichvili having hopes to become Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. However the party has rejected calls to form an alliance with the other opposition parties, saying that it rejected 'false alliances' and Koba Davitashvili's offer to withdraw from the race in favour of a unified candidate. Zourabichvili remarked in the 24 Saati (24 Hours) newspaper that "It was unimaginable for me to launch my political career by striking deals with those parties which have failed to secure the public's confidence… How is it possible to withdraw one's own candidacy in favor of a person whose ideas you do not even know and whose ideas you may not even agree with?"
Although former party chairman Zourabichvili enjoyed a high reputation in the country Georgia's Way has not been able to establish itself in the political field. At the city council elections in Tbilisi on October 5, 2006 only 2.77% of the constituency voted for the party. Six months before, an opinion poll conducted by the Georgian weekly Kviris Palitra suggested that Zourabichvili would garner 23.1% of the votes at presidential elections.
See also
- LiberalismLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
- List of political parties in Georgia
- Politics of Georgia (country)
- Rose RevolutionRose RevolutionThe "Revolution of Roses" was a change of power in Georgia in November 2003, which took place after having widespread protests over the disputed parliamentary elections...
- Mikheil SaakashviliMikheil SaakashviliMikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...