PM roadmap for Saakashvili

The Georgian style of cohabitation is facing a serious exam. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili asked President Mikheil Saakashvili to provide a direct answer with regard to giving up his right to dissolve the government without the parliament’s consent. Regardless of his answer, this question will be put to vote at a parliament session before the end of March.

Verbally Saakashvili said he was not going to use his right. However, refusal to provide a definitive answer in introduction of the appropriate amendment to the state constitution is interpreted by the ruling majority that Saakashvili still might use this right. Therefore the temperature on the political battlefield in Georgia has increased.

The dialogue between the ruling Georgian Dream and oppositional United National Movement (UNM) has come to a deadlock.

Commenting on the PM’s letter, Parliamentary Chairman Davit Usupashvili mentioned that this document briefly summarizes the situation in the country and everything is given its own name. He said Saakashvili is not interested in the normalization of the situation and the PM said very simply that it is time to make the final decision.

Deputy Parliamentary Chairperson Manana Kobakhidze thinks that PM wants Saakashvili to provide a definitive answer because the Georgian Dream does not trust the president as “he can say one thing today, say another thing tomorrow and do another thing altogether.”

Minister of Probation Sizar Subari also thinks that one and forever Saakashvili should give his position whether he wants to have the rights of a dictator or give up them.

Representatives of the minority labeled the PM’s statement as an ultimatum. US Ambassador to Georgia, Richard Norland, is rather optimistic in his remarks. Norland thinks that Saakashvili and Ivanishvili will eventually reach an agreement.

It is unlikely that Saakashvili will give a definitive answer, but the issue will be up for a vote in parliament in March and the results of this voting will reveal the balance of forces in the country.