The Labor Party of Georgia is emerging as the force that may decide Georgia's immediate political future. Labor officials have said that the party may boycott the next parliament. If that happens, parliament could find itself lacking the two-thirds majority needed to convene a session. Parliament's inability to establish a quorum could provide a significant boost to opposition efforts to overturn the official results of the November 2 parliamentary vote. It could also frustrate President Eduard Shevardnadze's efforts to outflank his opponents and retain a controlling influence over the legislature. Prior to the November 20 release of the Central Election Commission's final election results, Labor leader Shalva Natelashvili sat down with EurasiaNet contributor Giga Chikhladze to discuss Georgia's political dilemmas and Labor's possible options. The text of the interview follows:
EurasiaNet: Can you name parties with which you will cooperate in parliament?
Natelashvili: We are ready to cooperate absolutely with any political force on any concrete question. We are concerned about those questions whose resolution is vital for Georgia.
EurasiaNet: How probable is collaboration with the National Movement and Mikhail Saakashvili? You have more than once criticized him and called him a latent supporter of Shevardnadze. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Natelashvili: We are ready to cooperate even with the National Movement -- but, I shall repeat, only on concrete questions.
EurasiaNet: Do you think a Russian-style presidential transfer of power is possible in Georgia? In Russia, former President Boris Yeltsin retired early to make way for Vladimir Putin. Could we see Shevardnadze leave office early to give a political protégé a better chance to secure the presidency?
Natelashvili: The Georgian people will not allow [such a thing]. What happened in Russia is completely unacceptable for Georgia.
EurasiaNet: Looking ahead to presidential elections in 2005, do you see Saakashvili or Aslan Abashidze as probable candidates?
Natelashvili: The presidential election will involve all Georgian people. All Georgian people will solve the problem of who should lead us.
EurasiaNet: Are you going to participate in the presidential election campaign?
Natelashvili: Yes. Our party has already made this decision.
EurasiaNet: What should be Georgia's political orientation - pro-Russian or pro-Western? (Natelashvili has spoken out against the Russian purchase of Georgian energy assets). [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Natelashvili: Our policy should be many-sided. Our main motto is to negotiate equally with Europe and with Russia.
EurasiaNet: What can you say about how the United States and Russia have invested and developed policies in Georgia?
Natelashvili: I can tell only that both these states are our strategic partners.
EurasiaNet: How, in your opinion, should the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts be settled?
Natelashvili: Only in a peaceful way. In my opinion, for this purpose we must use diplomacy as strongly as possible in the people's interest
Giga Chikladze is an independent journalist based in Tbilisi.
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