Journalist Ia Antadze talked to Georgian Journal about the rally of April 19 and what kind of changes it can bring into Georgian political life.
Q. What is the main reason of 19 April rally and how it looks against the background of developing cohabitation?
A. April 19 was planned in different reality. Due to the constitution, the president could dissolve government, parliament; he could form new government and organize new elections without the parliament’s consent. That was the reality in which the idea of April 19 was born. Besides, the constitution doesn’t allow the president to dismiss the parliament during last six months of his presidency. There is no clear information when this term begins. If we mean the very last day of the presidency, then November 17 is the last day of presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili. Six months before it comes to May 17 and minus 28 days, which the president needs for the process of dissolving the parliament, we come exactly to April 19. This is logical chain in a backward order. So, April 19 is the last day when president could take actions towards dissolving the parliament, even April 20 was late for it. But situation has changed – the parliament took constitutional charges and the president doesn’t have permission to organize election together with his government. He can still dissolve the parliament and the government. The real issue of this change is that president can’t form the new government without agreement with the parliament and he has to wait for the results of parliamentary elections. So, the context of April 19 doesn’t exist any longer.
Q. If there are no changes, what could be the result of April 19 rally?
A. It is difficult to say, but theoretically, we can make conclusions. April 19, or the period before it could create the situation, that could mean that condition is uncontrollable and promp the president to use the right to dissolve the parliament. New parliament with other majority could enable Mikheil Saakashvili to become the prime minister of the country.
Q. From this perspective how do you see future of National Movement after the presidential or parliamentary elections?
A. Right now National Movement can only confirm that the party has certain number of supporters to be reckoned with. To prove that it is a legitimate oppositional political force. It is the only chance for it to survive. In other case, questions will arise about past activity of the members of the party. It can strengthen or weaken their positions as a legitimate oppositional power. This is a normal political fight. We will see that April 19 turns out to be a peaceful rally that will show number of supporters of Mikheil Saakashvili, or it can be a gathering with provocations. The Minister of Internal Affairs announced that some policemen will join the rally, though they don’t have the right to do it, and then they will defiantly tear up their uniforms. The Minister addressed these people and advised them to leave their jobs right now. There is different kind of information and we can’t say which is real, but we can say for sure that it is a big challenge for the government.
Q. What kind of preparation does the government make and what kind of reaction we can expect?
A. First, the government must provide safety; it shouldn’t make the same mistakes, which the old government made – threatening and even beating participants of the meeting. It always leads to a deadlock. The Minister of Internal Affairs also stated that they are going to announce the plan how the police will work on April 19. It’s a new and good initiative. Thus, this meeting will show democratic level of the government.