Georgian legislative election, 2008
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia
on May 21, 2008. President
Mikheil Saakashvili
proposed a referendum on bringing them forward from October to April after the 2007 Georgian demonstrations
. The referendum was held at the same time as the early presidential election
on 5 January 2008; according to exit polls, voters were largely in favour of having the elections in spring.
The Central Election Commission has registered 3,458,020 voters. The election was observed by 14 international and 31 local organizations.The List of local Non-Governmental Organizations registered at the Central Election Commission of Georgia for May 21, 2008 Parliamentary Elections, Central Election Commission, Georgia. Accessed on May 10, 2008.
(PACE) as well as several local watchdogs. The PACE observers have reported “little or no improvement” in the political climate since the January 5 presidential election
which was held in the tense aftermath of the November 2007 political crisis
and resulted in the reelection of Mikheil Saakashvili
to his second term. The monitoring mission has noted that “the political climate is still dominated by a lack of trust and absence of constructive dialogue between the authorities and the opposition”, one result of this being “the failure of the electoral reform that the authorities and the opposition agreed upon in the aftermath of the November 2007 events.”
The amendments to the election code passed by the Parliament in March 2008 took into account recommendations made by the PACE, such as abolition of the additional voters’ lists and voter registration on polling day; lowering of the election threshold from 7% to 5%; the simplification and clarification of election related complaints and appeals procedures; the introduction of party representation in the District Election Commissions. However, the PACE noted that a number of its other recommendations remained unaddressed.
This period has also witnessed significant reshuffle within the major political players. On February 29, 2008, the moderate Republican Party of Georgia left the nine-party opposition coalition, which spearheaded anti-government protests in November 2007, announcing that they would run independently for the parliamentary election, targeting mainly moderate and undecided voters. On the other hand, the opposition New Rights party
, which had distanced themselves from the 2007 demonstrations, now joined the nine-party coalition under an election bloc named United Opposition–New Rights.
Another key event, which sent shockwaves across Georgia’s political scene on April 21, 2008, was the refusal by Nino Burjanadze
, the outgoing parliamentary chairwoman and Saakashvili’s ally, to run on the president-led United National Movement (UNM) ticket, citing an absence of consensus within the UNM leadership regarding the party list.
The Central Election Commission refused 37 political parties to register for the election for various irregularities in their submissions.
-based company Greenberg Quinlan Rosner published results of the United National Movement-commissioned survey according to which the UNM had the support of 44 percent, compared to 12 percent for the United Opposition Council, 11 percent for the Christian Democratic Movement, 7 percent for the Labour Party of Georgia, and 4 percent for the Republican Party; 16 percent were undecided.
On election day 21 May, there was a shooting incident
in the village Khurcha near Zugdidi in the west of the country. Three people were taken to hospital. Close-up footage of the shooting was captured by a TV crew from Rustavi 2. President Saakashvili
claimed that the shooting had been an attempt to disrupt the election. An investigation was carried out by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee within hours, and concluded that the shooting had most likely been carried out by Georgian forces.
On 22 May 2008, OSCE observers stated that the poll was an improvement from the presidential election
held earlier that year, but that it was stilled marred by a number of imperfections. Early results indicated that UNM had 63% and the United Opposition Council 13%, but the opposition's partial results from Tbilisi gave the UOC 40% and UNM 32%. The first results indicate that the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party also cleared the threshold.
According to preliminary final results, the UNM got 59.5%, the UOC 17.7%, the CDM 8.3% and the Labour Party 7.6%. The UNM may thus have retained its two-thirds majority, but as full seat results are not yet available, this is not yet confirmed. Turnout was 55%.
The Joint Opposition and the Labour Party have announced they will boycott parliament which held its inaugural session on June 7, 2008, while the CDM refused to join them.
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...
on May 21, 2008. President
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil 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...
proposed a referendum on bringing them forward from October to April after the 2007 Georgian demonstrations
2007 Georgian demonstrations
The 2007 Georgian demonstrations were a series of anti-government protests in Georgia. The demonstrations peaked on November 2, 2007, when 50,000-100,000 rallied in downtown Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. People protested against the allegedly corrupt government of president Mikheil Saakashvili...
. The referendum was held at the same time as the early presidential election
Georgian presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Georgia on January 5, 2008, having been brought forward by President Mikheil Saakashvili after the 2007 Georgian demonstrations from the original date in autumn 2008....
on 5 January 2008; according to exit polls, voters were largely in favour of having the elections in spring.
The Central Election Commission has registered 3,458,020 voters. The election was observed by 14 international and 31 local organizations.The List of local Non-Governmental Organizations registered at the Central Election Commission of Georgia for May 21, 2008 Parliamentary Elections, Central Election Commission, Georgia. Accessed on May 10, 2008.
Pre-election process
The pre-election process has principally been monitored by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of EuropeParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe , which held its first session in Strasbourg on 10 August 1949, can be considered the oldest international parliamentary assembly with a pluralistic composition of democratically elected members of parliament established on the basis of an...
(PACE) as well as several local watchdogs. The PACE observers have reported “little or no improvement” in the political climate since the January 5 presidential election
Georgian presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Georgia on January 5, 2008, having been brought forward by President Mikheil Saakashvili after the 2007 Georgian demonstrations from the original date in autumn 2008....
which was held in the tense aftermath of the November 2007 political crisis
2007 Georgian demonstrations
The 2007 Georgian demonstrations were a series of anti-government protests in Georgia. The demonstrations peaked on November 2, 2007, when 50,000-100,000 rallied in downtown Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. People protested against the allegedly corrupt government of president Mikheil Saakashvili...
and resulted in the reelection of Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil 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...
to his second term. The monitoring mission has noted that “the political climate is still dominated by a lack of trust and absence of constructive dialogue between the authorities and the opposition”, one result of this being “the failure of the electoral reform that the authorities and the opposition agreed upon in the aftermath of the November 2007 events.”
The amendments to the election code passed by the Parliament in March 2008 took into account recommendations made by the PACE, such as abolition of the additional voters’ lists and voter registration on polling day; lowering of the election threshold from 7% to 5%; the simplification and clarification of election related complaints and appeals procedures; the introduction of party representation in the District Election Commissions. However, the PACE noted that a number of its other recommendations remained unaddressed.
This period has also witnessed significant reshuffle within the major political players. On February 29, 2008, the moderate Republican Party of Georgia left the nine-party opposition coalition, which spearheaded anti-government protests in November 2007, announcing that they would run independently for the parliamentary election, targeting mainly moderate and undecided voters. On the other hand, the opposition New Rights party
New Right (Georgia)
The New Rights Party of Georgia , also translated as New Conservative Party is a liberal conservative party in Georgia...
, which had distanced themselves from the 2007 demonstrations, now joined the nine-party coalition under an election bloc named United Opposition–New Rights.
Another key event, which sent shockwaves across Georgia’s political scene on April 21, 2008, was the refusal by Nino Burjanadze
Nino Burjanadze
Nino Burjanadze is a Georgian politician and lawyer who served as Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia from November 2001 to June 2008...
, the outgoing parliamentary chairwoman and Saakashvili’s ally, to run on the president-led United National Movement (UNM) ticket, citing an absence of consensus within the UNM leadership regarding the party list.
Contending parties
Three election blocs and nine parties are contesting this election. These are:- United National Movement, current ruling party led by President Saakashvili;
- Joint Opposition: the National Council – New Rights, a bloc uniting a nine-party alliance (Freedom Movement, Conservative Party of GeorgiaConservative Party of GeorgiaThe 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...
, Party of Georgia, People's Party, Movement for United GeorgiaMovement for United GeorgiaThe Movement for United Georgia is a Georgian political party founded by former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili on 27 September 2007. It is opposed to the current President Mikheil Saakashvili's supposed trend towards authoritarianism...
, National ForumNational Forum (Georgia)The National Forum is an opposition political party in Georgia established on December 15, 2006 by the former diplomat Kakha Shartava. He is the son of Zhiuli Shartava, a Georgian politician in Abkhazia, killed by the Abkhaz militias during the secessionist war in the region in 1993...
, Georgia's WayGeorgia's WayGeorgia'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...
, Georgian TroupeGeorgian TroupeThe Georgian Troupe or Kartuli Dasi is a left-wing Georgian opposition political party with a strong nationalist component set up in January 2007 and chaired by Jondi Bagaturia, formerly a leading activist of the Georgian Labour Party. Bagaturia left the Labour Party following his disagreement...
, On Our Own PartyOn Our Own PartyThe European Democrats is a political movement in Georgia, formed in 2005 by a group of internally displaced persons from breakaway Abkhazia. Its chairman is Paata Zakaraia, former Minister of Justice in the Abkhazian government-in-exile. The party focuses mainly on the Abkhazia problem and...
) with David GamkrelidzeDavid GamkrelidzeDavid Gamkrelidze or Davit Gamqrelidze , is a Georgian politician, Leader of the New Rights Party of Georgia, Member of Parliament since 1999, Member of Committee for Defense and Security, Chairman of the Centre-Right Opposition Group in the Parliament of Georgia...
's New RightNew Right (Georgia)The New Rights Party of Georgia , also translated as New Conservative Party is a liberal conservative party in Georgia...
which is led by the former presidential candidate and Saakashvili's principal rival Levan GachechiladzeLevan GachechiladzeLevan Gachechiladze is a Georgian politician and businessman who ran as the main oppositional candidate in the 5 January Georgian presidential election, 2008.-Life and family:...
; - Republican Party of GeorgiaRepublican Party of GeorgiaThe Republican Party of Georgia , commonly known as the Republicans , is a political party in Georgia active since 1978. It is currently in opposition to Mikheil Saakashvili’s government...
, led by Davit Usupashvili; - Georgian Labour PartyGeorgian Labour PartyThe 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...
, led by Shalva Natelashvili; - Christian-Democratic MovementChristian-Democratic Movement (Georgia)The Christian-Democratic Movement is a political party in Georgia, founded in February 2008 and led by Giorgi Targamadze, formerly a Imedi TV anchor who had once been a Member of the Parliament of Georgia and a close ally of Aslan Abashidze, then a regional leader of Adjara...
, founded and led by the former Imedi TV journalist Giorgi Targamadze; - Rightist Alliance – Topadze Industrialists, uniting Industry Will Save GeorgiaIndustry will save GeorgiaThe Industry Will Save Georgia is a conservative political party in Georgia....
led by the beer magnate Gogi Topadze, the National Democratic PartyNational Democratic Party (Georgia)The National Democratic Party is a political party in Georgia.At the last legislative elections, 28 March 2004, the party was part of the National Democratic Alliance....
and UnityUnity (Georgia)Unity is a left-wing political party in Georgia.At the last legislative elections, 28 March 2004, the party was part of the Jumber Patiashvili - Unity alliance....
led by the former Soviet Georgian leader Jumber PatiashviliJumber PatiashviliJumber Patiashvili is a Georgian politician. A current member of parliament, he was the Communist leader of the Georgian SSR from 1985 to 1989....
; - Union of Georgian TraditionalistsUnion of Georgian TraditionalistsUnion of Georgian Traditionalists was a national political organization of the Georgian Political Emigration in 1930s.The Union was established in 1942, in Berlin...
– Our Georgia – Georgian Women Party for Justice and Equality alliance; - Christian-Democratic Alliance, uniting the former presidential candidate Gia Maisashvili, the Green PartyGreen Party (Georgia)The Green Party is a political party in Georgia. It is led by Gia Gachechiladze.Its success has varied - having 11 out of 235 members of parliament in 1992 and having been art of the governing coalition in 1995.When it stood independently in 1999 it only received 0.55% of the vote...
and Temur Shashiashvili, a former governor of ImeretiImeretiImereti is a province in Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. It consists of the following Georgian administrative-territorial units:#Kutaisi #Baghdati region#Vani region#Zestafoni region...
region under ex-President Eduard ShevardnadzeEduard ShevardnadzeEduard Shevardnadze is a former Soviet, and later, Georgian statesman from the height to the end of the Cold War. He served as President of Georgia from 1995 to 2003, and as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party , from 1972 to 1985. Shevardnadze was responsible for many top decisions on...
; - The Georgian PoliticsThe Georgian PoliticsThe Georgian Politics is an opposition party in Georgia founded in February 2008 by Gocha Pipia, a non-partisan member of the Parliament of Georgia and former entrepreneur with the aim "to create the Georgian democracy and engage in Georgian politics." The party also includes several former...
, a party recently set up by Gocha Pipia, a member of the outgoing parliament; - Our Country;
- National Party of Radical-Democrats of Georgia;
- Union of Georgian Sportsmen.
The Central Election Commission refused 37 political parties to register for the election for various irregularities in their submissions.
Events
On May 5, 2008, the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based company Greenberg Quinlan Rosner published results of the United National Movement-commissioned survey according to which the UNM had the support of 44 percent, compared to 12 percent for the United Opposition Council, 11 percent for the Christian Democratic Movement, 7 percent for the Labour Party of Georgia, and 4 percent for the Republican Party; 16 percent were undecided.
On election day 21 May, there was a shooting incident
2008 Khurcha incident
The 2008 Khurcha incident refers to the May 21 2008 attack on two minibuses in the Georgian village of Khurcha, near the ceasefire line with the internationally unrecognised Republic of Abkhazia. The buses were carrying Georgians on the way to vote at the parliamentary election which was underway...
in the village Khurcha near Zugdidi in the west of the country. Three people were taken to hospital. Close-up footage of the shooting was captured by a TV crew from Rustavi 2. President Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil 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...
claimed that the shooting had been an attempt to disrupt the election. An investigation was carried out by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee within hours, and concluded that the shooting had most likely been carried out by Georgian forces.
On 22 May 2008, OSCE observers stated that the poll was an improvement from the presidential election
Georgian presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Georgia on January 5, 2008, having been brought forward by President Mikheil Saakashvili after the 2007 Georgian demonstrations from the original date in autumn 2008....
held earlier that year, but that it was stilled marred by a number of imperfections. Early results indicated that UNM had 63% and the United Opposition Council 13%, but the opposition's partial results from Tbilisi gave the UOC 40% and UNM 32%. The first results indicate that the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party also cleared the threshold.
According to preliminary final results, the UNM got 59.5%, the UOC 17.7%, the CDM 8.3% and the Labour Party 7.6%. The UNM may thus have retained its two-thirds majority, but as full seat results are not yet available, this is not yet confirmed. Turnout was 55%.
The Joint Opposition and the Labour Party have announced they will boycott parliament which held its inaugural session on June 7, 2008, while the CDM refused to join them.