Georgian Journal talked to expert Sandro Tvalchrelidze about presidential elections and nominated possible candidates.
Q. What do you think about already known presidential candidates and Davit Bakradze, who already won two primaries of the National Movement?
A. I am not interested in the candidate of National Movement because that party has no chance. There are several nominated candidates - among them are Nestan Kirtadze, Nino Burjanadze; the Christian democrats are still in the process of choosing their candidate. I welcome appearance of Paata Burchuladze in this rally because Margvelashvili has no rival: he is playing chess with white figures and he already made move of the knight.
Q. Which candidate is more proper for the role of the president in the parliamentary republic?
A. As we move to the parliamentary republic, belonging of the candidate to this or that party has no meaning. In my opinion, the president should not be a representative of one concrete party but of the society and for me it should be the person that is appealing for public. For example, Merab Mamardashvili or Niko Chavchavadze would have been the best candidates for the presidency. It means that I see the president as a socially active, eminent person who can present to the world best features of Georgia. Right now, presidential elections are not interesting. It can become interesting if Paata Burchuladze participates in the elections. Prime Minister also welcomes this fact. Only in this case, we will have free and competitive elections. In spite of my respect for Nino Burjanadze and Nestan Kirtadze - I know them very well - they can’t compete with the candidate of Georgian Dream. Only Paata Burchuladze can do it. These elections look much more interesting with Paata Burchuladze than without him.
Q. Does the public share your attitude that the party belonging of the candidate has no meaning?
A. I think so. Georgian Dream has already won elections; it has the Prime Minister who rules the country; cohabitation will end soon and the power of the Prime Minister and the parliament will grow. In this situation it has no importance, the representative of which party, except the National Movement, wins the elections. The National Movement has committed too many crimes. Presidents of Israel, Swiss Confederation, and Italy are less known because the presidents of those countries are not involved in active political and economical life of their countries. This is the future of the president of Georgia too and that’s good. If Georgia has a woman president, I’ll welcome it.
Q. What political sphere will be the main area of future president’s activity?
A. I think that foreign affairs is the field for the future president of Georgia and Paata Burchuladze as well as Giorgi Margvelashvili will cope successfully with that task. It is essential to hold competitive elections which will move into the second round. And there, I see chances only for those two candidates – Burchuladze and Margvelashvili. There is no country except post Soviet countries where elections take place without the second round. That is the sign of competitiveness.