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News/ PARLAMENT NEWS

Parlament's news

by last three days

* 1..10 *

2005-05-13

GEORGIA’S PARLIAMENT SPEAKER LOSES POLITICAL INFLUENCE [08:40:00]

A year-and-a-half ago, Nino Burjanadze was Georgia’s acting head of state, and a member of the triumvirate that led the country’s Rose Revolution. Her political star since then, however, has faded, as President Mikheil Saakashvili has established himself as the dominant political force in Georgia. US President George W. Bush’s recent visit to Tbilisi reinforced the impression that Burjanadze, Georgia’s current parliament speaker, wields vastly diminished influence over Georgian policy. During the 2003 parliamentary election campaign, Burjanadze, who at the time also served as parliament speaker, forged a tactical alliance with Zurab Zhvania, the reformist politician who died of carbon-monoxide poisoning in February. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Together with Saakashvili, the trio led the protest movement that toppled Eduard Shevardnadze’s administration in November 2003. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. To a certain extent, Burjanadze was always viewed as a junior member of the governing triumvirate, overshadowed by the strong personalities of both Saakashvili and Zhvania. Even so, her influence was considerable. She served as acting president from November 2003-January 2004, in part because of her reputation as a political moderate. Burjanadze was also seen as a conciliator who could help bridge the policy-making differences separating Saakashvili, who can be an impulsive political player, and Zhvania, who favored a more deliberate style. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. After Georgia held special elections, Saakashvili secured the presidency, Zhvania emerged as prime minister and Burjanadze returned to the post of parliament speaker. From the start, Saakashvili was the "first among equals" in the triumvirate. Still, his ability to control Georgia’s reform process during the early months of his administration was tempered somewhat by the combined influence of Zhvania and Burjanadze. Zhvania’s sudden death drastically altered Georgia’s policy-making calculus, apparently leaving Burjanadze without the additional heft needed to counter-balance Saakashvili. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The unanswered questions that linger over Zhvania’s death, which was officially attributed to the faulty installation of a space heater, caused lasting damage to Burjanadze’s political reputation, some Georgian politicians contend. "Authorities failed to present appropriate explanations to the public; this caused a decline in authorities’ [public approval] ratings in general, and that of Burjanadze in particular," said Zurab Tkemaladze, the deputy chairman of the Georgian parliamentary faction Right Opposition: Industrialists – New Rights. A key to Burjanadze’s drastic loss of influence was the fact that many Zhvania protégés did not ally themselves with the parliament speaker following the February tragedy, suggested Levan Berdzenishvili, the leader of opposition Republican Party. "Zhvania’s allies saw the president as their political opponent. [Yet] presently they are more likely to seek patronage from [Saakashvili], even though it would have been more logical if they had united with the speaker to create an alternative political power that was distinct from pro-presidential politicians," Berdzenishvili said. Vladimir Papava, an MP who is recognized as an ally of both Zhvania and Burjanadze, disputed the notion that the late prime minister’s death marked a turning point for the parliament speaker’s political fortunes. "The belief that Burjanadze’s role and her political career were seriously influenced by the death of prime minister Zhvania is exaggerated," Papava said. "She remains as among the most important state officials. ... All decisions of state importance are being made with the direct participation of the chairwoman [Burjanadze]." Indeed, Burjanadze retains a prominent position. Yet, she now enjoys a much lower public profile than earlier during Saakashvili’s administration. Burjanadze’s role during the Bush visit on May 9-10 was minor in comparison to Saakashvili’s -- limited to a brief meeting with the US president at the Georgian parliament. Earlier in May, Burjanadze was initially left out of the Georgian government delegation that was to participate in ceremonies in Batumi, the capital of Ajaria, commemorating the first anniversary of the popular protests that drove the region’s separatist-minded leader, Aslan Abashidze, from power. Burjanadze went to Batumi only after Saakashvili "put it right" and invited her at the last minute to join the delegation, state television reported May 6. Burjanadze’s diminished status was evident long before Bush’s visit. Perhaps the first sign that she her power was waning was when Saakashvili on February 8 announced the nomination of Zurab Noghaideli as Zhvania’s successor as prime minister. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Burjanadze was quoted as being "surprised" by the selection, indicating that she had not played an influential role in the selection process. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Another sign that Burjanadze’s influence was slipping came in March when parliament adopted a non-binding resolution demanding that a date be fixed for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The resolution passed in spite of Burjanadze apparent desire for a more moderate approach on the issue. Berdzenishvili characterized Burjanadze’s leadership during the base-withdraw debate as "mild," indicating that it contributed to a loss of stature. "There was no split of opinions regarding the bases problem within the parliament; there was only a difference in tactics," Berdzenishvili said. "Politics involves more fortitude," "I would say that even several MPs, such as Giga Bokeria and Maya Nadiradze, have more power than the speaker [because of closer relations with the president]," Berdzenishvili added. The loss of Burjanadze’s influence is a source of consternation for members of the political opposition. Saakashvili’s opponents control only a tiny share of parliamentary seats, and many looked to Burjanadze to play a far more significant political role, acting as a counter-balance to the president. According to Shalva Natelashvili, the leader of the Labor Party of Georgia, opposition politicians "expected a lot" from Burjanadze. "We really hoped she would achieve great success in politics; the Labor Party, for instance, viewed her as a highly qualified and professional woman with great potential," Natelashvili said. Berdzenishvili suggested that Burjanadze was not fulfilling her "political potential" by making full use of the powers granted to the parliament speaker under Georgia’s constitution. "Presently she controls the political situation in the country just partially, not in the way a parliamentary speaker could exert control," Berdzenishvili said. Burjanadze’s performance as parliament speaker has also disappointed some women’s rights advocates, who see the parliament speaker as a trail-blazer in the male-dominated world of Georgian politics. Galina Petriashvili -- an expert on gender issues in Georgia, and president of GenderMediaCaucasus, a local non-governmental organization – shared the belief that Burjanadze was not fulfilling her political potential. Burjanadze could use the perception that she is "mild" to her advantage, but she is not, Petriashvili suggested. "The ‘mildness’ seems to be misunderstood by certain politicians and analysts. They are likely to refer to Burjanadze’s ‘mildness’ when talking about some well-considered decision made by her. The women’s movement of Georgia would rather support this ‘mildness,’ especially if it deals with such issues as conflict-resolution and human rights," Petriashvili said. "But Burjanadze does not really make an impression of a mild and feminine politician," she added. "The speaker has been making really harsh statements since the beginning of her career; she voiced, for instance, Georgia’s priority to strengthen army." Editor’s Note: Diana Petriashvili is a freelance political and business reporter in Tbilisi.

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