Davit Gamkrelidze
A doctor by training, Tbilisi-born Davit Gamkrelidze first gained public recognition for establishing the country's first insurance company, Aldagi.
An active participant in the Soviet-era push for independence as a founder of the Christian Democratic Union, Gamkrelidze took the leap into politics in 1998 when he was elected a member of the Tbilisi City Council. He later emerged as a prominent member of the Citizens' Union, a party led by then President Eduard Shevardnadze. In 1999 he was elected to parliament, where he chaired the parliamentary committee on healthcare and social issues.
Once named among Georgia's ten most successful businessmen, Gamkrelidze has largely kept to the second tier of opposition leaders in politics - newsworthy, but short of sensations.
In 2001, he was elected co-chairman of the New Rights Party, a position he shared with current presidential candidate Levan Gachechiladze. The new party lashed out at Shevardnadze's administration for its governance style, and swept that year's local elections, but refrained from backing street protests against Shevardnadze's government over the 2003 parliamentary elections. The decision cost them many supporters. Nonetheless, in the repeat 2004 parliamentary elections, the New Rights, allied with the Industry Will Save Georgia Party, were able to gain 15 seats in parliament. The two parties later separated, forming two different factions, one of which, the Right Opposition, is currently headed by Gamkrelidze.
The New Rights Party did not take part in the November 2-7, 2007 opposition protests in Tbilisi, calling instead for a referendum to decide the date of parliamentary elections. Nonetheless, the party harshly criticized the government after the November 7 crackdown on protestors and closure of pro-opposition television stations.
Gamkrelidze represents a coalition between the New Rights, Industry Will Save Georgia, the National Democratic Party of Georgia and the Christian Democratic Party.
Like his former ally, Gachechiladze, Gamkrelidze believes the 2008 vote should be "the last presidential poll." He has also expressed support for a constitutional monarchy, pending a decision by referendum.
As have other candidates, he calls for Georgia's integration with NATO and the European Union coupled with a normalization of relations with Russia. Direct dialogue with the separatist governments in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have also been put on the table.
Website:
http://www.ncp.ge/www.gamkrelidze.ge
Address: 3 Kalandadzis Kucha, Tbilisi
Tel: (995-32) 72-21-01; 72-03-18
