Nika Chitadze, is a senior analyst associated with the International Black Sea University. After the first phase of Georgian elections he speaks with the Eurasia Diary regarding his exclusive analysis and observations.
Eurasia Diary: How do you see the recent election in Georgia because there were a lot of international observers and they had mixed kind of the comments about this election? So what are your thoughts on this?
Nika Chitadze: In my point of view one of the problems is that only about 51 percent of Georgian citizens participated in presidential election of Georgia 2016. Comparing with the previous parliamentarian election which held in October 22 the number of participants is at least 10% less than that one. Then there were less parties participated in this election. Due to the fact that there are only two political parties which participated in the election 2016. They managed to overcome this 5 person who will set the party and which also will be represented here. Mostly two main political parties participated in this election. At the same time ruling party will get the constitutional chance such as ruling party can held the constitutional majority. If majority win the second term, the candidates of ruling party will win. In this case it will affect to positive development of democracy in the country.
Eurasia Diary: Do you think that current ruling party will be in power again?
Nika Chitadze: Yes, Current ruling party “Georgian Dream” of course will be in power again and in my point of view it has big chance for new parliament and all the governmental positions including Prime Minister of Georgia. Ruling party will be able to form the parliament and make some amendments in constitution of Georgia.
Eurasia Diary: What do you think about Prime Minister? Who will be the premier candidate?
Nika Chitadze: Giorgi Kvirikashvili who got his master degree in Chicago University with a degree in Economics. Most probably Giorgi Kvirikashvili will be again the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Eurasia Diary: There is also another party such as United National Movement (UNM), how many seats they have got from this election?
Nika Chitadze: They got 27.14 percent votes.
Eurasia Diary: Do you think that all process was transparent and according to international standards and observers satisfied about this election?
Nika Chitadze: There were some problems in this regard. Yes, maybe the procedures of the election and election is normally in voting districts but we saw some violations. At the same time different parties, they got some funds before the election and ruling party was the best condition on this issue. They held so many election campaigns and so on. Anyway most of observers said that election is normal and democratic but we observed some violations of some rules.
Eurasia Diary: People of the Georgia have confidence on the current ruling party and prime minister. Do you think that this time they are coming with more confidence and more trust from public?
Nika Chitadze: Frankly speaking ruling party is only about 50 percent of population of the voters who came to the election. only half 48 percent give their vote for the ruling party. Accordingly, we can say that less activity was observed and the supporters of Georgian Dream was higher than today.
Eurasia Diary: How much majority they will get to form the government independently or create some coalition partners?
Nika Chitadze: They do not have coalition partners now. Ruling party is now separated party. They have no need to have the coalition with other parties.
Eurasia Diary: How many parliamentarians they have elected and they had got succeed in the election?
Nika Chitadze: Today the proportion of majoritarian is about 70 seats and but after the second term which we will be held in 50 voting districts if they win I think most probably they will have more than 100 seats in the parliament of Georgia. In this case if they will win more than 100 seats in the parliament they will form the parliamentarian majority.
