Georgia's President Eduard Shevardnadze has announced that he is willing to meet with opposition leaders to discuss the electoral framework for the parliamentary vote scheduled for November. Speaking at a government session June 4, the Georgian president downplayed the significance of anti-government protests held across the country the previous day. Opposition leaders are vowing to keep up the pressure on Shevardnadze's administration to conduct a free and fair parliamentary election. On June 3, Rustavi-2 television reported that five opposition parties had forged a "United Resistance Front." One of the parties joining the anti-Shevardnadze front is the United Democrats, led by former parliament speaker Zurab Zhvania. EurasiaNet contributor Giga Chikhladze recently interviewed Zhvania. His comments on the parliamentary election and other key issues facing Georgia today follow:

EurasiaNet: Do you think the November 2 parliamentary election will be free and democratic?
Zhvania: It is very hard to say for sure whether the upcoming elections will be free and democratic or not. The [Shevardnadze] administration's behavior today indicates that the government would rather decide to falsify the election results. They may use "administrative resources" and tamper with the election commissions rather than let the voting process pass calmly and follow a democratic path. Therefore we are certainly much concerned about the possibility of election fraud. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive].

EurasiaNet: What could be done to avoid electoral fraud?
Zhvania: First of all, the election commissions should be composed of members who are impartial and independent from the Georgian political leadership. And secondly, you will have to update voter-registration lists. The lists of voters should correspond to reality. A series of amendments to the electoral code have been developed, and they have been submitted to parliament for approval.

EurasiaNet: Do you think it is possible to unify the opposition and create a coalition bloc?
Zhvania: I was among the first to call for a unified opposition, and I remain a staunch defender of this idea. This is the only way to completely disband the current leadership. Anyway, pro-Western opposition forces seeking liberal reforms and democratic governance will receive the overwhelming majority in parliament, and this will mark a new point of departure for Georgia.

EurasiaNet: What kind of relations do you have with Mikheil Saakashvili, the leader of the opposition National Movement? Is it possible to see both of you in a single bloc and cooperating with each other? Who would assume the primary leadership in such a political alliance?
Zhvania: There can't be any single leader in such an alliance. Nobody in Georgia would believe that I could be put under command, and be directed by anyone. Anyway, I do not claim to become the one and only leader.

While Mikheil was raised up and built a political reputation as a member of Zhvania's team, I cannot deny that now his rating is one of the highest among Georgian political leaders. I do not seek the leadership. I am saying on the contrary