Review of April 9, 2000 elections of the president of Georgia

April 9, 2000 is a day of the third (1991, 1995) presidential elections in Georgia.

Presidential elections in Georgia of April 9, 2000 similar to that of 1995 is regulated by 1995 Constitution of Georgia, organic law on elections of the president of Georgia and law on parliament elections of Georgia.

As always, this elections started with amendments in legislation. This time opposition, namely – bloc Revival of Georgia - has proposed amendments. The bloc was partially supported by parliament fraction – "Industry will Save Georgia". The bloc "Revival of Georgia" proposed two main amendments: marking of constituency and increase of parliament minority representation at all levels of electoral committees, position of deputy chairman of electoral committee for minority representatives. Otherwise, opposition would boikot elections. At the same time opposition hesitated to submit their candidate – Aslan Abashidze, who was named as a candidate before parliamentary elections of 1999 Autumn.

With the aim of making amendments in the law inter-fractional group was established in the parliament, governing party – "Union of Citizens of Georgia" agreed to almost all amendments, the chairman of the parliament - Zurab Zhvania – proposed initiative to add other amendments as well, namely those suggested by OSCE mission in order to improve electoral legislation except marking constituency, that was not present in OSCE suggestions. The agreement nearly achieved was threatened to fail, as the opposition did not want to remove this amendment. Finally, amendments to electoral law, except marking constituency were adopted at the parliament session of March 10 2000. As a result of these amendments parliament opposition has received three additional places in electoral commissions and a position of deputy chairmen of commissions.

According to the law on parliament elections, elections of the president of Georgia will take place after five years from the previous presidential elections on the second Sunday of April. The president is elected for a 5 year term. The elections are realized if majority of the registered electorate participates in elections and that is defined by the barrier – 50%+1 voice. The candidate is elected, if he will get more than half of the votes – 50%+1. If in the first tour of elections none of the candidates gets needed number of votes, the second tour of elections will be held between two candidates, who receive higher number of votes in the first tour.

If it is necessary to carry out the second tour of elections, it will be held two weeks after the first tour. The second tour is realized if at least 1/3 of electorate participates in it. The candidate who gets more votes is elected.

The president of Georgia must be: Georgian citizen by birth, after 35 years of age, who lived in Georgia at least 15 years and lives in Georgia on the day of announcing elections date. Candidate must not be: a citizen not living in Georgia during the last two years and is not registered at consulates at any country.

Candidates for presidents can be submitted by political parties and initiative citizen's groups.

Candidate is registered at CEC after he has submitted at least 50 000 supporting signatures.

For the elections of the president of Georgia April 9, 2000 17 persons applied to CEC to be registered s a candidate for presidents:

Eduard Shevardnadze – submitted by Citizens Union of Georgia

Avtandil Joglidze – submitted by Georgia National State Divine Movement "Mdzleveli"

Vazha Zhgenti - submitted by Progresist Party of Georgia

Zurab Gagnidze - submitted by party of National Ideology of Georgia

Guram Absnadze - submitted by the initiative group of voters

Roin Liparteliani - submitted by David the Builder Party

Gia Chkhikvvadze - submitted by the initiative group of voters

Tengiz Asanidze - submitted by the initiative group of voters

Gaioz (Gia) Mamaladze - submitted by Union of Georgian Nationalists

Kartlos GAribashvivli - submitted by the initiative group of voters

Gela Gelashvili - submitted by an Independent Union of Unemployed of Georgia

Ivane Tsiklauri - submitted by the Communist party of Georgia

Aslan Abashidze - submitted by Union of Democrat Revival of Georgia

Evgeni jugashvili - submitted by Democrat Union of Georgia

Jumber Patiashvili - submitted by the initiative group of voters

Two of the list – Igor Giorgadze and Evgeni Jugashvili (Stalin's grandson) were refused by CEC to collect supporting votes. The former because he has not lived in Georgia for the last two years and the latest – because he is not a citizen of Georgia. Evgeni Jugashvili and Igor Giorgadze applied to the supreme court but it left CEC decision unchanged. The rest of the candidates were allowed to collect supporting signatures.

Gela Gelashvili and Ivane Tsiklauri withdrew themselves on the basis of personal request.

Ushangi Donjashvili and Gia Chkhihvadze were not able to submit lists of supporters.

By the deadline of submitting supporters signatures – March 10, 11 candidates submitted the lists.

CEC has checked all lists and refused to register Zurab Gaganidze, Guram Absnadze, Roin Liparteliani and Gaioz (Gia) Mamaladze as the number of their real signatures was less than 50 000.

Guram Absnadze and Roin Liparteliani applied to the supreme court, but it left CEC decision unchanged.

Finally CEC has registered 7 candidates:

 

1. Eduard Shevardnadze
2. Avtandil Joglidze
3. Vazha Zhgenti
4. Tengiz Asanidze
5. Kartlos Garibashvivli
6. Aslan Abashidze
7. Jumber Patiashvili

 

 

The most unexpected point in the elections was submitting Jumber Patiashvili - a leader of the parliament minority, communist party central committee first secretary in 1985-1989 – as a candidate for presidents on the last day of submitting – February 19.

The bloc "Revival of Georgia" has already submitted its candidate –Aslan Abashidze and Patiashvili was supposed to support him in election campaign. In case of Abashidze getting the president, Patiashvili would be appointed to the position of the prime-minister. The bloc "Revival of Georgia" announced submitting of Patiashvili as agreed activity and planned tactic step: 2 candidates would get higher number of votes and thus support second tour of elections. One more unexpected thing was that Patiashvili electoral headquarters are lead by People's party of Georgia and its leader – Mamuka Giorgadze, who was one of the organizers of 1989 April 9 protest action. Jumber Patiashvili, opposite to Aslan Abashidze, who has not started his electoral campaign so far, actively leads his electoral campaign. As for Alsan Abashidze, he has published his pre-election program but has not realised any other activity. Therefore, it could be concluded that Abashidze is going to withdraw himself. Socialist Party from the bloc "Revival of Georgia" supports Jumber Patiashvili and Union of Traditionalists from the same bloc supports Aslan Abashidze. The leader of Traditionalists announced that in case Abashidze withdraws himself, the party will not support any candidate.

A group of non-parliament parties lead by National Independence Party claims active boikot of elections and invites all candidates to join them with on the grounds that existing election legislation is not democrat and biased towards Shevardnadze, suporting him become the president.

The main candidates (E. Shevardnadze and J. Patiashvili) started pre-election campaign with mutual blames, namely on the subject of 1989 April 9 tragedy.

As for pre-election programs of the main candidates, they all look like each other, especially those of Jumber Patiashvili and Aslan Abashidze. The main priorities of their programs are the following: liquidation of poverty, territorial integrity of Georgia, national consolidation, political pardon, socially oriented mixed regulated national economical system, status of free economical zone to separate regions, new jobs, good living conditions for everybody, combating corruption, political, legislative and economic principles of the state regionalisation, specific state status for Abkhasia and Ajara.

Pre-election motto of Jumber Patiashvili is: "Change Life for a Better one!" and Aslan Abashidze motto is: "Strong Regions – Strong State!".

The central task in new presidential term is overcoming and annulling poverty, social injustice, corruption and national consolidation, further strengthening of Georgian State, restoration of territorial integrity. Motto: "Construction, Development, Well being".

Observers reckon in case Aslan Abashidze withdraws himself, the main competitors will be Eduard Shevardnadze and Jumber Patiashvili, and the rest of four candidates even together will not get 0.1% .

The elections will start on April 9 at 7 AM. and finish at 8 PM. Preliminary results will be known on April 10, and official results will be announced by CEC no later than 20 days after the elections.

 

Konstantine Kandelaki